THE parents of a teenager who hanged himself after watching the spoof
TV documentary Ghostwatch are continuing to blame the BBC for their
son's death.
A Nottingham coroner yesterday recorded a verdict that 18-year-old
Martin Denham killed himself, but his mother, Mrs April Denham, said:
''I blame the BBC.''
Martin's stepfather, Mr Percy Denham, said: ''He was a very nervous
lad. He thought there were ghosts in our home. In my own mind I hold the
BBC completely responsible for his death.''
The inquest was told that their son, who had the mental age of a
13-year-old, was found hanging from a tree near his home in Bestwood
Park, Nottingham, on November 5.
He had tied a length of plastic hosepipe around his neck. A note found
in his pocket said: ''Please don't worry -- if there are ghosts I will
be a ghost, and I will be with you always as a ghost.''
The documentary-style programme, screened on Hallowe'en, upset
hundreds of viewers who jammed the BBC switchboards to protest.
Shortly after Martin Denham's death the BBC said the programme had
been clearly advertised as fictional.
Mr Denham, a 51-year-old pipe-fitter, told Coroner Peter Jenkin-Jones
that his stepson had been virtually hypnotised by the programme.
That night, he insisted on keeping his bedroom light on. He was also
concerned by noises from central heating pipes, something which had
featured in the programme.
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