25 Marconi Scientists, 1982-88



There have been at least 25 mysterious deaths of people who worked for GEC-Marconi (the defence arm of GEC) on the Sting Ray torpedo project betwen 1982 and 1988. The death of the British defense journalist Jonathan Moyle , who was found hanged in his Santiago hotel room on April 1, 1990, has also been the subject of speculation as being connected to the Marconi deaths.

Most incidents occurred after the men have successfully completed important projects or left one job for another.

Four of the dead men were employees of the GEC group – three at Marconi and one at Easams Ltd. Two others worked at separate times at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham. An investigation by Computer News established that most of the men were involved in computer simulation, a key part of defence procurement.



At the time GEC-Marconi was Britain's only torpedo supplier and in 1986 was awarded a £400 million order from the Ministry of Defence for advanced anti-submarine Sting Ray torpedoes. The Royal Military College at Shrivenham is also involved in a number of Britain's leading edge defense projects. The college develops new testing devices for the Ministry of Defence and is engaged as a subcontractor to defence companies on research and development.

All the men involved were ambitious and demonstrated a special ability in their particular field. After every death, police gave unofficial press briefings providing journalists with plausible though unconfirmed explanations for the accidents or apparent suicides. The major problem for police has been the lack of obvious signs of depression in any of the cases. Several British MPs demanded a government inquiry. The UK Ministry of Defence denied that these scientists had been involved in classified Star Wars Projects and that the deaths were in any way connected.



March 1982: Professor Keith Bowden , 46

Expertise: Computer programmer and scientist at Essex University engaged in work for Marconi, who was hailed as an expert on super computers and computer-controlled aircraft.

Circumstance of Death: Fatal car crash when his vehicle went out of control across a dual carriageway and plunged onto a disused railway line. Police maintained he had been drinking but family and friends all denied the allegation.

Coroner's verdict: Accident.



April 1983: Lt. Colonel Anthony Godley , 49

Expertise: Head of the Work Study Unit at the Royal College of Military Science.

Circumstance of Death: Disappeared mysteriously in April 1983 without explanation. Presumed dead.



March 1985: Roger Hill , 49

Expertise: Radar designer and draughtsman with Marconi.

Circumstance of Death: Died by a shotgun blast at home.

Coroner's verdict: Suicide.



November 19, 1985: Jonathan Walsh , 29

Expertise: Digital communications expert who had worked at GEC and at British Telecom's secret research centre at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk.

Circumstance of Death: Died as a result of falling from a hotel room in Abidjan, West Africa, while working for British Telecom. He had expressed fears that his life was in danger.

Coroner's verdict: Open.



August 5, 1986: Vimal Dajibhai , 24

Expertise: Computer software engineer with Marconi, responsible for testing computer control systems of Tigerfish and Stingray torpedoes at Marconi Underwater Systems at Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, and was also working on an SDI related simulation system.

Circumstance of Death: Dajibhai told his wife he would be working late, and then drove a hundred miles to Bristol (a city with which he had no known connection) and fell 260 feet (80 m) from the Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon. The police report on the body mentioned a needle-sized puncture wound on the left buttock, but this was later dismissed as being a result of the fall. Dajibhai had been looking forward to starting a new job in the City of London and friends had confirmed that there was no reason for him to commit suicide. At the time of his death he was in the last week of his work with Marconi.

Coroner's verdict: Open.



October 1986: Arshad Sharif , 26

Expertise: Reported to have been working on systems for the detection of submarines by satellite.

Circumstance of Death: Died as a result of placing a rope around his neck, tying the other end to a tree and then driving off in his car with the accelerator pedal jammed down. His unusual death was complicated by several issues: Sharif lived near Vimal Dajibhai (see above) in Stanmore, Middlesex, he committed suicide in Bristol and, inexplicably, had spent the last night of his life in a rooming house. He had paid for his accommodation in cash and was seen to have a bundle of high-denomination banknotes in his possession. While the police were told of the banknotes, no mention was made of them at the inquest and they were never found. In addition, most of the other guests at the rooming house worked at British Aerospace. Prior to working for Marconi, Sharif had also worked at British Aerospace on guided weapons technology.

Coroner's verdict: Suicide.



January 1987: Richard Pugh , 37

Expertise: Ministry of Defence computer consultant and digital communications expert.

Circumstance of Death: Found dead in his flat in with his feet bound and a plastic bag over his head. Rope was tied around his body, coiling four times around his neck.

Coroner's verdict: Accident.



January 8, 1987: Avtar Singh-Gida , 26