John Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017.

In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

Boeing said it was saddened to hear of Mr Barnett’s passing. The Charleston County coroner confirmed his death to the BBC on Monday.

It said the 62-year-old had died from a “self-inflicted” wound on 9 March and police were investigating.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      299 months ago

      Exactly this. In a fucked up way a rule like that would actually incentivise whistleblowers to become martyrs.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          59 months ago

          Then they’d be interested to hire him all kinds of councilors and security guards so that he doesn’t kill himself.

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                19 months ago

                Because don’t you think that in itself is a form of witness intimidation? Won’t people be hesitant to volunteer to testify during a lengthy trial if it means a security guard literally watching them sleep and shower for months.

                • @[email protected]
                  link
                  fedilink
                  18 months ago

                  I meant not that the witness would be obligated to accept that, but that a company would be interested to offer to pay for various measures to preserve their health, sanity and all that.

                  • @[email protected]
                    link
                    fedilink
                    18 months ago

                    But the claim was that he committed suicide, say you’re concerned about the company killing you so you accept their security. Couldn’t the security then just have a good reason to be in your house to “find the body” when you “slip in the shower”

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      69 months ago

      Step 1: Short company stocks Step 2: kill witness against the company Step 3: profit.

      Just one example of that being a terrible idea