Lawyers for the parents of Elliott Johnson have argued that their son’s previous mental health issues and suicide attempts were “pre-existing vulnerabilities” which did not contribute to him taking his own life. In their submission to the coroner today, the Johnson lawyers said:

In so far as it may be said that there is evidence of other pressures or reasons for the actions that Elliott took… The vast majority of the features identified by him in that letter are directly referable to [bullying and losing his job]…

his family believe that up to this time Elliott had been in a good state of mind, happy and excited about his new job with CWF. There is nothing to suggest he had experienced any medical problems in the months or even several years before this time. (References in his medical records to emotional disturbance are from 2011, when Elliott was still at school)

Further, in so far as Elliott had any pre-existing vulnerabilities in 2015, this made the treatment he experienced in the weeks before his death all the more serious (and all the mores so if those involved were aware of it). As Elliott said in the letter he left his parents: “It’s very lonely sometimes. Politics, depression, anxiety are not good for individuals.

The British Transport Police report leaked to the press revealed Elliott’s three previous suicide attempts and battle with depression. The police report suggested Elliott, who was gay, had rowed with his parents about his sexuality – a claim they deny. The Johnson’s lawyers tell the coroner that this was all in the distant past…