'Visionary' ex-British Army Captain, 48, behind Syrian 'White Helmet' volunteers mysteriously fell to death from Turkish balcony 20 minutes after talking to wife - but coroner says there is 'not enough' evidence to rule suicide
- James Le Mesurier, 48, died after falling from a balcony in Turkey, coroner found
- It was 20 minutes after talking to wife, inquest at Woking Coroners' Court heard
- His body was discovered under his apartment in Istanbul on November 11, 2019
James Le Mesurier (pictured), 48, died after falling from a balcony in Turkey 20 minutes after talking to his wife, the inquest at Woking Coroners' Court heard
The death of an ex-Army captain behind the Syrian 'White Helmet' volunteers cannot be ruled a suicide because there is 'not enough' evidence, a coroner has found.
James Le Mesurier, 48, died after falling from a balcony in Turkey 20 minutes after talking to his wife, the inquest at Woking Coroners' Court heard.
His body was found under his apartment in Istanbul on November 11, 2019, having passed away from multiple injuries.
Mr Le Mesurier worked in the Middle East as a soldier and then humanitarian worker for 17 years.
He was hailed as a 'visionary' and was a major figure behind the not-for-profit White Helmets who train local volunteers to rescue war victims.
Assistant Surrey coroner Dr Karen Henderson said: 'There is no evidence that this was an accidental fall.
'James Le Mesurier had a long history of depression, he was distressed and fearful for his organisation.
'He spoke to his wife 20 minutes earlier where there was no indication that he was stressed and he did not leave a note.'
She continued: 'To return a conclusion of suicide, there needs to be an act and an intention to do so.
He was hailed as a 'visionary' and was a major figure behind the not-for-profit White Helmets who train local volunteers to rescue war victims (pictured)
'I accept the evidence lends itself to a deliberate act of self harm but I am satisfied this evidence is insufficient on the balance of probabilities.
'My conclusion is one of open conclusion. This conclusion is not to cloud his death in suspicion but there is real doubt as to how he fell from the balcony.'
Mr Le Mesurier was born in Singapore and rose to be a lieutenant-colonel and commandant of the Royal Marines.
He joined the Queen's Belfast Officer Training Corps before leaving the cadets to study international politics and strategic studies at Aberystwyth University.
Le Mesurier, left, and his wife Emma Winberg, right, pose happily before his tragic death
Le Mesurier fell from the circled ledge. His death came a week after Russia accused him of being an MI6 spy
The solider moved to Sandhurst, Berkshire, where he won the Queen's medal for character and leadership in 1993.
He served in the Royal Green Jackets in Kosovo as a young captain before joining the UN mission as an adviser. He left the Army in 2000.
Mr Le Mesurier spent five years in the UAE at security firm Good Harbour then moved to Syria and set up the not-for-profit Mayday Rescue - leading to the White Helmets.
The organisation won awards in France, Ireland and South Korea as well as the Elie Wiesel award from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
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The group has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in every year since 2014.
But it drew criticism from President Bashar al-Assad for footage it produced showing the horrors in Syria.
The scrutiny intensified in 2015 when Russia launched a campaign to discredit the White Helmets, seeing Mr Le Mesurier as the ringleader.
His sister Rebecca Packard, who spoke over video link, looked visibly upset as the coroner concluded: 'I want to offer my sincerest condolences to the family.'
