WA: Lang' s death a natural, merciful release, GP tells inquest

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2001
WA: Lang' s death a natural, merciful release, GP tells inquest

By Liza Kappelle

PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - Eighty-two-year-old Lang Hancock's health and mental alertness
were declining and his death was a "natural and merciful release from his many illnesses",
his former GP told the West Australian coroner's court today.

Alan Hutchinson also said he had carried out tests on the ailing tycoon after alleged
poisoning attempts, but the results uncovered only traces of pain killers and sleeping
pills.

Dr Hutchinson told the inquest into Mr Hancock's death the mining magnate had been
his patient for most of the period from 1981 until he died on March 27, 1992 in a hospital
set up in the grounds of his lavish Perth home.

Investigating police ruled out foul play, but Mr Hancock's daughter Gina Rinehart has
believed for years her former stepmother Rose Porteous killed the multi-millionaire by
stressing him to death.

Witnesses have given varying accounts of Mr Hancock's health.

The court has heard that he was a very sick old man beginning to show signs of forgetfulness;
that he was mentally alert; that he was recovering and preparing to go back to work when
he died.

Dr Hutchinson told WA coroner Alastair Hope he had given evidence to police investigating
Mr Hancock's death in 1992 - in which he stated his belief the iron-ore tycoon had died
a natural death.

"I consider his death a natural and merciful release from his multiple illnesses,"

Dr Hutchinson said in his report at the time.

Dr Hutchinson said he had not witnessed serious arguments between Mr Hancock and his
second wife Rose.

But he knew Mr Hancock's family was troubling him.

The doctor told the court he had carried out tests after claims Mr Hancock had been
poisoned, but found only traces of analgesic and sleeping pills.

Mr Hutchinson's evidence follows that of retired Oxford professor Peter Sleight who
had been paid by Ms Rinehart to compile a report on Mr Hancock's death.

Prof Sleight spent four years part-time on the report, which found Mr Hancock should
have recovered from the heart attack which killed him to live for several more years.

Prof Sleight told the coroner he had been asked to give his expert opinion based on
a set of assumptions.

Among those assumptions were that Mr Hancock had witnessed his wife's "enjoyment of
other men", and treated him badly in public, and had stressed him unduly with tantrums
and demands for money.

On Monday, the court is due to hear evidence from Ms Porteous' first husband Julian
Teodoro who is expected to tell what he knows of his ex-wife's alleged involvement in
an alleged plot to kill Mr Hancock.

Ms Teodoro's testimony will come after Mr Hope opened the door for Ms Rinehart to pay
$250,000 for his "protection".

AAP lk/sd/cd/sb

KEYWORD: HANCOCK NIGHTLEAD

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