Natural causes killed murder-fear tycoon

Published on Thursday 14 February 2008 09:14

INITIAL post mortem tests on the body of an exiled Georgian billionaire who recently spoke of his assassination fears have revealed he died from natural causes, police said today.

Badri Patarkatsishvili, 52, collapsed at his country mansion outside Leatherhead, Surrey, on Tuesday night and his family reported that he suffered a heart attack.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said the interim results of a post-mortem examination carried out last night showed he died of natural causes.

The spokeswoman said: "Following initial inquiries and the post mortem carried out last night, Surrey Police can confirm that at this stage there is no indication that the sudden death of Badri Patarkatsishvili was from anything other than natural causes.

"However extensive toxicology testing is yet to be carried out. This will take a number of weeks.

"The Surrey coroner will formally open the inquest tomorrow morning at Woking Coroners Court at 9.30am."