A former British marine accused of spying for Hong Kong’s intelligence services has died, police said in a statement late Tuesday.
The man, whom Thames Valley Police named Matthew Trickett, was found dead in a park in the west London town of Maidenhead on Sunday. Mr. Trickett is One of three men charged Their case was expected to return to court on Friday after being charged last week with assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence services under Britain’s national security laws.
Tensions between London and Beijing in Hong Kong, a former British colony and special administrative region of China, have grown in recent months as the British government has become increasingly outspoken over accusations of Chinese espionage. Following last week’s accusations, the U.K. summoned and asked the Chinese ambassador to condemn it.
Mr Trickett, 37, is a British immigration enforcement officer and former Royal Marine. Director of a private security companyconsultant of MTR.
According to police, authorities were alerted to the situation at Grenfell Park in Maidenhead by a member of the public at around 5.15pm on Sunday. Mr Trickett, who is from the area, was found and despite the efforts of emergency crews he was saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Inquiries into this death are ongoing and are currently being treated as unexplained,” police said in a statement. a statement, It added that “an autopsy will be carried out in due course”.
Police are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation.
In a statement provided to Reuters, Trickett’s family said they were “mourning the loss of a beloved son, brother and family member.”
Trickett is free on bail after being charged with assisting foreign intelligence services and foreign interference. The Metropolitan Police said said in a statement last week “The foreign intelligence agencies involved in the above accusations are Hong Kong’s intelligence agencies.”
According to Thames Valley Police, Trickett’s bail conditions require him to check in regularly with the police station. He is awaiting a court hearing due to begin at London’s Central Criminal Court on Friday.
China’s crackdown on Hong Kong protesters and other democracy advocates has forced hundreds of thousands of people to seek asylum elsewhere out of fear they may be persecuted.
Since 2021, the UK has allowed some Hong Kong residents to settle in the country through a special visa scheme, and more than 160,000 people have arrived in the UK, including well-known activists.
