Ex-cricket captain Peter Roebuck jumped from hotel window to his death after arrest for ‘sexual assault’, coroner finds

3 months ago 33

A FORMER cricket captain jumped to his death from a hotel window after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, an inquest heard.

Peter Roebuck, 55, was staying at the Southern Sun hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, to commentate on a test match when the horror unfolded.

Peter Roebuck jumped to his death from a hotel room[/caption]

The former Somerset captain had been accused of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old man in his room while on the trip, an inquest heard.

A jury today reached a conclusion of suicide 13 years after Peter jumped to his death.

The court was told police went to the hotel to arrest Roebuck on November 12 when the complaint was made.

He was seen by a friend looking “totally in despair” while sat on the bed with a police office nearby.

The cricket journalist and commentator asked the pal to contact people at home and said he needed a lawyer before leaving.

Detective Aubrey McDonald said: “Peter Roebuck mentioned he was well known in the cricket fraternity and that his arrest will be front-page news worldwide.”

The officer said he stepped outside to make a phonecall when he heard his colleague Lieutenant Cecil Jacobs shouting.

Lieutenant Jacobs said he looked up and saw the cricketer standing at the window.

He added: “I screamed at him but he jumped without looking back.

“At the time of the incident the deceased appeared very calm and in control of himself.”

A post mortem showed Roebuck died from multiple injuries and that no third party was “directly involved”.

Roebuck’s sister Dr Margaret Frostick told the court her brother had previously pleaded guilty to a common assault charge.

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She claimed this was “just so he could go and carry on with his job” because a trial had been listed for the end of the UK cricket season.

Her brother was given a four-month suspended jail sentence for the offence against three South African teens he allegedly caned after a coaching session.

Dr Frostick added: “He was horrified that such false allegations could be laid against him and that he was unable to persist in getting to prove his innocence.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.