Micromuse Inc founder Chris Dawes had drawn up a list of eight people who he believed wanted to kill him just seven months before he lost his life in a high-speed car crash. But an inquest at Saffron Walden, UK concluded that Dawes and two companions died accidentally after he lost control of his $1m 240mph McLaren F1 sports car shortly after leaving his home in March (CI No 3,629).
Police said they had not interviewed the eight people on Dawes’ list and coroner Dr Malcolm Weir refused a request from lawyers acting for Dawes’ parents for the inquest to be adjourned while the eight were interrogated. Dr Weir said that all the evidence suggested that the tragedy occurred because of the actions of driving, nothing more.
Dawes, who started service level management company Micromuse from his home in London, is believed to have been eased out as chairman and CEO of the San Francisco company by fellow directors in 1998 because of his increasingly eccentric behavior. When he died, he was facing charges for possession of crack cocaine and allegations that he drugged women for sex.
