[King Gizzard]

Policeman shot and blinded by Raoul Moat found dead in home

Northumbria police say PC David Rathband pronounced dead at scene after they were called to house in Blyth

PC David Rathband, the police officer shot and blinded by Raoul Moat, has been found dead in his home.

Northumbria police said they attended his house in the Northumberland town of Blyth following "concerns for his welfare", but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The circumstances of his death remain unclear and a police investigation is under way.

A force spokesman said: "Around 7pm tonight, Wednesday February 29, officers received a report of concerns for the welfare of PC David Rathband at his home in Blyth.

"Officers attended alongside the ambulance service and PC Rathband was found inside. He was declared dead at the scene.

"A police investigation is under way and officers are in the process of informing the family."

The coroner has also been informed of the death, he added.

Rathband, a father of two teenagers who joined Northumbria police in 2000, was blinded in both eyes when he was shot at close range during the manhunt for Moat on 4 July 2010.

The gunman had shot and injured his ex-partner Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend, Chris Brown. He was pursued by police for six days before eventually killing himself.

Rathband said afterwards he bore Moat no ill will and in July last year was presented with a police bravery award in London.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ma...oat-found-dead

[Scarlett.]

[MTVN]

Sad news, wonder if it was suicide, losing your sight and the splitting with your wife must be very difficult to cope with

[Angus]

The police suspect suicide apparently. This poor guy didn't just lose his eyesight, he lost his career, his independence, his whole life as he knew it, and then the split with his wife last November probably pushed him over the edge

[Benjamin]

Poor man, such a terrible few years for him, a person that put himself forward to be a hero and protector of our society.

[Ammi]

This is very sad and has made me think about the father/suicide again. I don't think any of us can judge pain in others, whether it be physical or emotional..everyone has a different pain threshhold and that isn't something they can control easily. It's sad when someone thinks of life as pain...but some do. Imo, emotional pain is no different from a physical cancer which inhabits and consumes the person and I will never cast judgement on it. Maybe, he died the day Moat shot him.
RIP...and without pain

[billy123]

Thats really sad
It must have been so hard for him to come to terms with i cant even imagine how tortured he must have felt.
He was a football referee and a very popular guy in the northern premier league which my home town buxton play and a member of a non league forum i frequent he was really well thought of in non league football circles which was rare for a referee!
RIP and i hope Raul Moat rots in hell.

[joeysteele]

Awful news, he had clearly just spiralled downwards,obviously from the trauma of what happened and his injuries he was left with.
A few years ago,he seemed to have everything in life and also was in control of his life, one madman took all that away from him and now this sad event.
Really sad.

[billy123]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Awful news, he had clearly just spiralled downwards,obviously from the trauma of what happened and his injuries he was left with.
A few years ago,he seemed to have everything in life and also was in control of his life, one madman took all that away from him and now this sad event.
Really sad.

You are exactly right joey and this is why the morons amongst us that seem to think its funny to glorify lunatics like moat and fritzel etc are nothing more than scum these type of people are too mentally handicapped or just too socially backwards to realise the impact these things have on other people.

Patrick and jack you will rue these type of comments you have made if you ever manage to grow up.
Today the world is a poorer place due to a ****** with a gun.

[Kazanne]

Very sad news,it must have been terrible for him,as others have said he lost everything that mattered to him,and to lose your sight must be so hard to cope with,he must have felt so very alone,very sad that Moat has claimed another life.R.I.P David Rathband

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by bobnot

You are exactly right joey and this is why the morons amongst us that seem to think its funny to glorify murderers like moat and fritzel etc are nothing more than scum these type of people are too mentally handicapped or just too socially backwards to realise the impact these things have on other people.
Patrick and jack you will rue these type of comments if you ever manage to grow up.

Have not seen the comments made by Patrick or Jack and dont wish to,but anyone who can comment on this in a none caring way,seriously needs to get a grip and show a little compassion.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by kazanne

Very sad news,it must have been terrible for him,as others have said he lost everything that mattered to him,and to lose your sight must be so hard to cope with,he must have felt so very alone,very sad that Moat has claimed another life.R.I.P David Rathband

A strong point you make there kazanne, Moat did in the end claim this man's life, managing to inflict torture meantime for a while after the initial attack.
It's really horrific really.

[Livia]

The poor sod. Doing his job and a pathetic excuse for a human takes away his sight, his career, his family and now his life. Alev ha-sholem - may he rest in peace.

[Ninastar]

just saw this on the news and it was truly heartbreaking. It showed him back in 2010 crying because he wanted to see his daughter get married and how he was upset that he wouldn't be able to see her wedding dress.

Just so so sad.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

This is very sad and has made me think about the father/suicide again. I don't think any of us can judge pain in others, whether it be physical or emotional..everyone has a different pain threshhold and that isn't something they can control easily. It's sad when someone thinks of life as pain...but some do. Imo, emotional pain is no different from a physical cancer which inhabits and consumes the person and I will never cast judgement on it. Maybe, he died the day Moat shot him.
RIP...and without pain

Yeah, it made me think about that too

Poor guy

[Kizzy]

I am shocked as he initially seemed so strong following the attack, the poor man. His spirit was broken,i dont think there can be any comeback from that. And there are still those who idolise that twisted evil madman moat. It makes me sick.

[LaLaLand]

Very sad news.

[Scarlett.]

R.I.P. A proper hero

[Ninastar]

I can't get the image of him crying out of my head. It's been depressing me all morning.

It's such a shame that it happened in the first place.

[InOne]

Terrible news

[Shaun]

Such a tragedy R.I.P.

[Marc]

Really sad, the guy must have just felt completely useless.

[Ammi]

"David's legacy will live on in the form of The Blue Lamp Foundation, which bears his name.

"The foundation was started by David to help emergency services personnel injured in the line of duty as the result of a criminal act.

"It was David's wish that those who found themselves in a similar position to him could receive the support that wasn't available to him at the time.

"David's family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and they are allowed the time and space to reflect and grieve."

I hope the newspapers do respect it

[Sticks]

Yet another death because of that woman Samantha Stobbart,

She is now directly responsible for the deaths of three people because she told lies and formed a relationship with an innocent man when she knew that it would enrage a dangerous man.

Why can't she be prosecuted for these wrongful deaths? I understand the parents of the boyfriend that Moat killed banner her from the funeral because rightly so they held her directly responsible for his death.

[Jack_]

Very sad news. RIP & thoughts with his family

Originally Posted by bobnot

You are exactly right joey and this is why the morons amongst us that seem to think its funny to glorify lunatics like moat and fritzel etc are nothing more than scum these type of people are too mentally handicapped or just too socially backwards to realise the impact these things have on other people.

Patrick and jack you will rue these type of comments you have made if you ever manage to grow up.
Today the world is a poorer place due to a ****** with a gun.

Oh please get a grip. Just because somebody dares to make a dark humoured joke, it doesn't mean they advocate, or as you laughably put it, 'glorify' the actions of the perpetrator. In fact, it's completely the opposite. If someone makes a joke at the expense of a murderer, they are taking the piss out of the murderer...I fail to comprehend how that's 'glorifying' their actions.

And regardless, a joke is a joke. Nothing more, nothing less. A flippant remark does not equate to advocating criminal behaviour.

Please stop trying to bait myself and Patrick in numerous posts of yours...thanks.