Ex-cricketer Peter Roebuck jumped to his death after being arrested for 'sexual assault'
A FORMER cricket captain jumped to his death from a hotel window after being arrested on suspicion of 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.
The former Somerset captain was accused of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old man in his room during the voyage, an inquest heard.
A jury today returned a verdict of suicide, thirteen years after Peter jumped to his death.
The court was told police had gone to the hotel to arrest Roebuck on November 12 when the complaint was made.
He was seen by a friend looking “completely desperate” as he sat on a bed with a police station nearby.
The cricket journalist and commentator asked the friend to contact people back home and said he needed a lawyer before he left.
Detective Inspector Aubrey McDonald said: 'Peter Roebuck said he was well known in the police force cricket brotherhood and that his arrest will make headlines news worldwide.”
The officer said he stepped outside to make a phone call when he heard his colleague Lt. Cecil Jacobs screaming.
Lieutenant Jacobs said he looked up and saw the cricketer standing by the window.
He added: “I shouted at him but he jumped without looking back.
“At the time of the incident the deceased appeared very calm and in control of himself.”
An autopsy revealed that Roebuck died from multiple injuries and that no third party was “directly involved.”
Roebuck's sister, Dr. Margaret Frostick, told the newspaper court her brother had previously pleaded guilty to a general assault charge.
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She claimed this was “just so he could get on with his job” as a trial was scheduled for the end of the British cricket season.
Her brother was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for the crime against three South African teenagers whom he allegedly caned after a coaching session.
Dr. Frostick added: “He was shocked that such false accusations could be made against him and that he was unable to prove his innocence.”
If you are experiencing any of the issues discussed in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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