HEARTBROKEN Coventry father Reece Platt-May was found hanged in a hotel room while on holiday in Greece, an inquest has heard.
His suicide followed the tragic death of his young sons, Corey and Casper, aged six and two respectively.
Reece, 30, was found dead by a friend just weeks after he watched Robert Brown, the killer of his two boys, jailed for nine years.
The father-of-four had been on holiday on the Greek island of Corfu and was due to fly back to the UK on May 17.
The beginning of the inquest into his death was heard at Coventry Coroners Court today (Thursday, May 31).
But the inquest’s verdict has been adjourned to a date yet to be confirmed.
West Midlands Police said on May 17 his death was not being treated as suspicious and offered condolences to the family – three months after the loss of his children.
Detective seargent Catherine Fowler told the short five-minute hearing: “Mr Platt-May had recently lost two of his children in a road collision.
“He had flown out to Corfu, Greece for a holiday with friends.
“A family member had contacted the police after receiving a call from those in Corfu.
“Mr Platt-May had hanged himself and was found by a friend – the time of death was around 2am UK time.”
When his sons’ killer was jailed last month – a sentence slammed by the family – the city taxi driver had spoken of the couple’s heartache in court.
He stood to read out the victim impact statement of Louise, which said: “I feel so guilty if my sons make me laugh or smile, like it’s wrong to be happy again.
“My family is broken, my heart is broken and time will never heal this.”
Brown, 53, of Attwood Crescent, Wyken, Coventry, was sentenced for causing the deaths of the boys – a charge to which he pleaded guilty.
He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with his licence.
The heart-breaking incident took place at just after 2pm on February 22 in Longfellow Road, Coventry, when the youngsters, who were with their mother, were hit by a black Ford Focus driven by Brown.
Without a thought for the boys, Brown drove off before abandoning the car in nearby Hipswell Highway, but he and his passenger Gwendoline Harrison were arrested shortly afterwards.
Following the controversial nine-year sentencing, there were calls for Brown to receive a life sentence.
An appeal was lodged to the Attorney General Jeremy Wright MP’s office for the case to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme (ULS).
It was confirmed yesterday the case will now be taken to the Court of Appeal where the government’s senior legal advisers will consider the sentencing.
