Nat West Three - House of Commons Debate

House of Commons Debate

In a highly unusual move, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, allowed an emergency debate, on 12 July 2006, on both the treaty and the 'Natwest Three' after a request by Liberal Democrat MP Nick Clegg. During the debate, news shocked the House that a former Royal Bank of Scotland executive and FBI prosecution witness Neil Coulbeck had been found dead, after committing suicide by slitting his wrists. It had been suggested by friends and family that the FBI 'hounded' him. At the inquest into his death, Coulbeck's wife stated that he had been deeply disturbed by the extradition of the Three, and it was known that he had provided a crucial statement which in part led to their extradition. On the day of his death he tried to contact NatWest's lawyers and shortly after left his home and was found dead a few days later. The FBI denied this, saying that it had interviewed Coulbeck only once, four years earlier.

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