Young man told of taking life

Press, 10 December 1982, Page 5

Young man told of taking life

PA Auckland A young man who drove to his death over a harbourside cliff had talked to a friend about taking his life in a spectacular way, the Coroner’s Court at Auckland was told. Evidence was being heard at an inquest into the death of Allister William Meek, aged 17, of Meadowbank, on September 1. Mr Meek, also known as Bamfield. had told a former schoolfriend. Mr Roderick Finlayson, that he might blow himself up in a car, but had never suggested driving it over a cliff, Mr Finlayson said. Mr Meek had not seemed depressed when he said that, and witness had assumed he was joking, Mr Finlayson said. A flying instructor, Mr David Seed, in written statement said that for several months before his death Mr Meek had taken flying lessons which had been paid for by his step-father. While his parents were abroad, Mr Meek had resigned from his job as a bank clerk to devote himself to flying. Mr Meek had been a very promising student. On the day of his death he had a lesson and seemed in good spirits, Mr Seed said.

Students who appeared to be acting in an unusual way were grounded, he said. Another friend of Mr Meek’s, Mr Alan Forster, said that when Mr Meek’s step-father returned to New Zealand he stopped paying for the flying lessons. This had angered Mr Meek. Two further witnesses gave evidence that showed that Mr Meek was familiar with the intersection where the car left the road. An onlooker said that he saw the car travel through a wooden fence and over the cliff at Ladies Bay at a steady speed of 50km without any apparent attempt being made to turn the corner. The Coroner, referring to a note found in the car, said, “The note was obviously written by somebody in a highly emotional state. If he (Meek) was about to take his life one would expect him to be in a highly emotional state.” He banned publication of any details contained in the note, which was mostly illegible.

The Coroner ruled that Mr Meek died from multiple injuries suffered when he drove through a wooden fence and fell 33m down a cliff in the car.