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Businessman uses Aston Martin to decapitate himself in horrific suicide as revenge against his ex-wife
Last updated at 01:43am on 08.08.08
Decapitated: Gerald Mellin's bizarre suicide was in a bid to get back at his ex-wife
A businessman decapitated himself in his sports car to get back at his younger wife for leaving him, an inquest has heard.
Gerald Mellin, 54, taunted his estranged wife Mirrielle, 33, with threats of suicide.
He even showed her the rope he was going to use, which he kept in the boot of his open-top Aston Martin DB7.
The court heard that the day before his death Mrs Mellin had been awarded an extra £100 a week in maintenance from her former husband.
Mr Mellin had then sent her a text message which read: 'Congratulations XXX.'
It was the last time she heard from him.
The businessman tied one end of the rope to a tree, then climbed into his Aston Martin and wrapped the other end around his neck.
He then drove the £90,000 car into a busy main road, forcing other drivers to watch his horrific death. Yesterday Mrs Millen, a mother of two, told the inquest: 'We had split up and been to court.
'He wanted me to walk away from the farmhouse and the business and leave me with nothing.
'We met in a pub after a court hearing and he started having a tantrum. As we made our way back to our cars he opened the boot and said: "There's my rope, that's what I'm going to kill myself with."
'I told him to grow up and give me the rope. But he just laughed.'
Mr Mellin owned the gym and sun tanning centre where his wife had worked as a beautician.
The inquest heard the pair had both been married before their wedding in 2002.
They split up five years later, and Mrs Mellin continued to live in their luxury farmhouse in the village of Crumlin, near Neath, South Wales. She told the court: 'Our marriage was horrendous most of the time. After we split he phoned me and said he wanted to do a deal with selling the business.
Revenge: Melliin's ex-wife Mirrielle who is now left with his debts
'He had been to see an accountant but the way he did it was all wrong. I said it was about time we stopped arguing and started behaving like adults.
'That was when I met him in the pub and he showed me the rope.'
The inquest in Swansea heard that after her husband's death she discovered he had cancelled a life insurance policy which would have paid out to her.
She said: 'He ran up an extortionate amount of debt. I've got to sell the farmhouse now, just to pay the debts.'
A suicide note was found in Mr Mellin's pocket detailing his funeral wishes.
The cause of death was given as decapitation. Recording a verdict of suicide, Coroner Phillip Rogers said: 'I'm satisfied this was a deliberate attempt by Mr Mellin to kill himself.'
Revenge: An Aston Martin DB7 similar to Mr Mellin's
Reader views (11)
I too feel sorry for the witnesses to the suicide, but they will get over the experience eventually. For poor Mr Mellin it was a final act - he must have been so desperate.
- Rachel, Glamorgan, UK
Gosh what a sad story...why on earth can't people just part without all the selfishness and greed...yes she does look like a hard nosed woman and as for John's from London comment, you've lost touch with the real work as not "all" women expect to be waited on hand and foot.Infact the majority of us do work and support our families without a man providing...see you're impressed with the car mmmm.
- Sarah, London
Now that's revenge! life is messed up anyway, women just expect to waited on hand and foot and then inherit everything, well now she has his debt.
- John, London
This car is definitely head turning.
- John, London, UK
What a silly selfish man. I feel sorry for the poor people who had to watch him commit the ultimate sad act.
- Spike, Bucks
This is terrible, and it shows how men are unfairly treated in the courts. The house and the businesses were his long before she came along, yet she gets the farmhouse, and maintainance.
They weren't his kids, so why should he have been expected to continue paying for them.
- Scott, London
How can you kill yourself over a woman. Jeez some men are useless indeed.
- Krip, Qatar
What a lucky man, she looks like a gem! So basically she tried to screw him for everything he had and he decided to kill himself. What a horrible way to go though.
- Mark, London, UK
She looks like such a sweet woman. Poor guy.
- Serox, London
"Mr Mellin owned the gym and sun tanning centre where his wife had worked as a beautician. "
Ah, I thought she was carved from mahogany but that would seem a more rational explanation.
- Dan Glink, London
Sounds like she got away from him just in time. If he could do that to himself, what might he have done to her when he lost it next time?
- Rogan, DFW TX
