LONDON — Former tycoon Boris Berezovsky was found lying on his bathroom floor with a ligature around his neck, the inquest into his death was told on Thursday.
Berezovsky, who survived years of intrigue, power struggles and assassination attempts in Russia, was found dead on Saturday at a mansion in Ascot, near London.
Police have said there was no sign of a struggle and that the 67-year-old's death was "consistent with hanging," suggesting he might have killed himself.
Detective Inspector Mark Bissell of Thames Valley Police said at the opening of the inquest at Windsor Coroner's Court that Beresovsky had been found "with a ligature around his neck and a piece of similar material on the shower rail above him."
Asked whether any third-party involvement was possible, he replied: "That cannot be completely eliminated."
The inquest was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.
A report from The Guardian on Thursday cited a family member as saying the initial post-mortem examination revealed a broken rib but no bruising on Berezovsky's body.
Police have not confirmed the report, and a series of toxicology tests are still being carried out, with the results not expected for several weeks.
(MT)
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