Afghanistan war veteran, 43, asked his girlfriend to marry him days before he died, inquest hears
Afghanistan war veteran, 43, who had PTSD asked girlfriend to ‘marry on the beach’ days before he died being Tasered by police after ‘campaign of harassment’ from officers, inquest hears
Platoon Sergeant Spencer Beynon, 43, hit with up to 50,000 volts and diedHe allegedly ‘charged’ at police officers in the street near his home in LlanelliHis father said police ‘harassed’ Spencer and repeatedly searched his houseSpencer’s girlfriend Victoria Key said he told her he loved her before his death
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An Afghanistan war veteran who had PTSD asked his girlfriend to ‘marry him on the beach’ days before he died after being Tasered by police, an inquest has heard.
Platoon Sergeant Spencer Beynon, 43, was hit with up to 50,000 volts after allegedly ‘charging’ at officers in the street near his home in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
His father Christopher said police told ‘a catalogue of lies’ following his son’s death and said Spencer had ‘suffered a campaign of harassment’ from officers ahead of the tragedy.
Mr Beynon said police had repeatedly searched his son’s home in the 18 months leading up to his death, causing damage to doors and windows.
Spencer’s girlfriend Victoria Key – who has since died – said in a statement taken at the time that Spencer expressed his love for her shortly before his death on July 14, 2016.
Platoon Sergeant Spencer Beynon (pictured), 43, was hit with up to 50,000 volts after allegedly ‘charging’ at officers in the street near his home in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire
His father Christopher said Spencer (left), who toured Iraq and Afghanistan while serving his country, would get overcome with ‘a blackness’ from PTSD
The Iraq and Afghanistan veteran had been suffering from PTSD after returning home – and the inquest heard he suffered from rages and mood swings.
In a statement, Miss Key said: ‘Spencer told me how much he loved me and wanted to get married on the beach.’
But she said that after she kissed Spencer: ‘He looked at me and his eyes were black for a moment.’
She said Spencer then left the house without any shoes and smashed glass in a door frame on his way out.
Miss Key said Spencer was acting strangely in the days before his death and saw ‘the devil’ in people and his pet dog.
His father said Spencer, who toured Iraq and Afghanistan while serving his country, would get overcome with ‘a blackness’ from PTSD.
Spencer returned to Wales from Iraq in December 2007 and took part in a homecoming parade with hundreds of supporters lining the streets.
But the former member of the Royal Welsh Regiment, who lost comrades in a roadside bomb attack in Basra, was left traumatised by his experiences.
He later tried to turn his life around by setting up a community group in his home town to protect children in local playgrounds, and became a follower of Buddhism.
Spencer (pictured) returned to Wales from Iraq in December 2007 and took part in a homecoming parade with hundreds of supporters lining the streets
A welfare check was not carried out after Mr Beynon’s call to police in the morning and acting senior coroner Paul Bennett has asked the jury to decide whether the police response was appropriate. Pictured, Spencer
But his father told an inquest the traumatic experiences of war deeply affected his son’s mental health.
Mr Beynon said: ‘Anyone who has lived with PTSD knows it’s a horror show. It was for him, and for me, his mother and sister.
‘He was screaming, crying, punching the walls, and locking himself in his room for days on end. PTSD, it’s the worst thing you could see your child go through.’
On Spencer’s suicidal thoughts, Mr Beynon said: ‘We used to talk. I’m an ex-soldier too. I’d say think about your kids and he’d say you’ll look after my kids. I said well, think of your mummy boy. I always pulled him back.’
Mr Beynon said his son’s mental health appeared to be improving before his death and he was ‘more placid’ after becoming interested in Buddhism.
But he said that on the day of his Spencer’s death he was behaving ‘absolutely nuts’.
Mr Beynon said: ‘He was shouting at the top of his voice, “I love you, I love you, I’m going to make you proud”. He got down into a prayer then got up and tried to exorcise the devil from me. His mood changed, and a blackness came over him.’
Mr Beynon said his son’s mental health appeared to be improving before his death and he was ‘more placid’ after becoming interested in Buddhism. Pictured, Spencer
Mr Beynon told the inquest at Parc y Scarlets rugby union stadium in Llanelli that he dialled 999 after Spencer left the house on July 14, 2016, and asked medics to section him.
But he did not hear of his sons whereabouts until 7.30pm that night when he was told Spencer had died in the street.
At the scene, he said he was told by a police sergeant that his son’s body had already been taken by the ambulance, but that he now believes it remained under a sheet in the road.
It was the beginning of what he claims was a “catalogue of lies” he was told by the police force following his son’s death.
A welfare check was not carried out after Mr Beynon’s call to police in the morning and acting senior coroner Paul Bennett has asked the jury to decide whether police’s response to events that unfolded in Maes y Bwlch, where Mr Beynon eventually died, was reasonable, whether it was reasonable for officers to use a Taser, and whether the Taser contributed to his death. And if the medical assistance given at the scene was appropriate.
The inquest, listed for four weeks, continues.
