SPY FEAR DISMISSED AFTER DEATH IN MOSCOW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96B01172R000300020010-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: October 1, 1983
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Rel C Q1,17 j000300020010-7
Spy fear
dismissed
after
death in
Moscow
By Patrick Keatley,
Diplomatic Correspondent
The British , banker ,. Mr
Dennis Skinner, who plunged
to his death from the twelfth
floor of a block of data in Mos-
cow iadt. June, is not retarded
in Whitehall as, someone
caught In a web of espionage.
The view Is that he woo a
loner who developed Some kind
of persecution complex as the
day approached for his depar-
ture on a British Airways
Eljhteith Landon.
Ntoer the authorities in
Croydon, where the Inquest
into his death was adjourned
two months ago. nor toe heeur.
ily experts'in Whitehall regard
this as a secret matter. No res-
trictions have beep imposed
Mr Skinner's wife came to
this country about two years
ago and friends in Moscow
understood that this was
because their son would be
going to school in Britain. In
the weeks leading up to his
death Mr Skinner's behaviour
had begun to cause anxlely
amen his friends. After gluing
up alcohol and cigarettes he
had dimculty Sleeping.
Officials say that the delay In
the Inquest fa caused theth
process of assembling . the
documents in the ease. The
of the SoutbeutinLandon hands
cor.
oner, Dr Mary McHugh. A
spokesman for her office said
last night: "The resumption
of the inquest has been de-
layed because of the dlEfeul-
'ties encountered in obtaining
papers from Moscow."
The Foreign Office said: "It
Is for the coroner, Dr McHugh,
to decide how to hold tM is
quest. But we have explained
to her that we are not aware
of any interests of national
Security which would require
the resumed hearing to be
held in camera."
Mr Skinner, who was 54, was
first posted to Moscow by_ a
British computer manufacturer
in 1968.
it was the handwritten'Itote
which be gave to a British
friend Mr William . Cane, , on
June 16, two days before.. kin
death, which caused alarm'and
concern. This asked-Ur Cane
" Please go to the Embassy for
guards to be there, In cue I
try to make a run for It... .
Plgqtasemdo this for me-or I am
d ,d an."
The note contained at-until
tence in which . Mr' paw
claimed to know that the "was
.. a spy in the'., British
Embassy" It seems ,that ' he
was asking Mr cane to alert
the embassy staff because he
feared that the armed Soviet
soldiers who stand outside the
building would intercept him
when he went - there for
the annual reception marling
the Queen'( birthday In the
event he attended the creep
lion without difficulty.
Approved For Release 2005/08/03 : CIA-RDP96B01172R000300020010-7