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| Depressed chauffeur jumped to
his death |
Driver to the stars was in finacial
straits claims friend
A CHAUFFEUR from Maida Vale who drove film stars around the world
jumped to his death from his balcony, a court heard on Wednesday.
Court official Elizabeth Riley told the hearing at Horseferry Coroner’s
Court that Stanley Sirkin, 71, became depressed in October during
a period of unemployment.
She told the court how Mr Sirkin confided in his friend Stephen
Lanning that he was in a “financial mess” and talked of
life not being worth living four months before killing himself.
In April he was admitted to St Charles Hospital for psychiatric
treatment but chose to leave early when he became frightened of
the hospital, despite telling friends he was also afraid to be alone.
The court was told that a psychiatric report from Dr Suraiya Dalwai
stated Mr Sirkin had no history of psychiatric problems.
His body was found on May 10 in a flower bed beneath his sixth floor
flat in Stuart Tower by a concierge.
PC David Rooksby told the coroner Dr Paul Knapman that he arrived
at the scene about 10am and explained that CID had been satisfied
at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances.
The court heard that the post mortem found no drugs or alcohol were
found in his body.
Dr Knapman gave a verdict of multiple injury and blood clot due
to a fall.
Court officer Elizabeth Riley read a statement from Mr Lanning,
a film producer, who identified the body. It said Mr Sirkin who
worked with crews from films including Four Weddings and a Funeral
and Gosford Park would be remembered as: “A real character,
pony-tailed, gregarious, several times divorced and still actively
chasing younger women.”
Mrs Riley added although Mr Sirkin had no family he was well loved
by a large circle of friends.
Dr Knapman said: “He spent his life driving actors and film
executives around and was known as a real character but recently
there had been a huge change in his character. He had been to hospital
and only recently came out.
“He decided to kill himself and there is no doubt he was depressed
at the time.” |
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