Family Of U.K. Photographer Found Dead In Harare Accepts He Took His Own Life
A statement from Mills's family said that "we are now reconciled to the fact that he did indeed take his own life"
The family of British photo journalist Richard Mills, found dead in his Harare hotel room on July 14, has stated that it accepts he took his own life, the Times of London reported. The Times reported on its Web site Tuesday that “there was noevidence of foul play” and on Wednesday published the statement from the journalist's family. A member of the family had stated earlier that it was "almost impossible" to believe that Mills, 41, who had worked for the Times since 2000, had taken his own life. "Having had the chance to examine in detail thecircumstances surrounding Richard's death we are now reconciled to thefact that he did indeed take his own life," the family said. "We acknowledge that theamount of suffering and extreme hardship he witnessed at first hand inmany harrowing situations throughout the world proved too much for himto bear." The statement continued: "We would respectfully ask the media to stop furtherspeculation and let the family mourn our loss and grieve in peace." Three international journalistic organizations this week had called for an investigation into the death of Mills, a Times photographer working undercover in Zimbabwe at the time. Statements calling for an investigation were issued Wednesday by the International Press Institute and the U.K. National Union of Journalists, following a similar statement Tuesday released by the International Federation of Journalists. NUJ President James Doherty wrote to South African President Thabo Mbeki saying that the union "shares with his family, colleagues and friends their grave concern at the circumstances surrounding Richard's death." He asked him to "raise this incident in your discussions with Zimbabwean authorities to ensure it is investigated in an open and transparent manner." Mr. Mbeki has been a mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis since March 2007. IFJ Africa Director Gabriel Baglosaid the international community should support a full investigation. "He died in his room. There is need for an inquiry," Baglo said.