Car 'suicide' mystery of boy, 15

Standard Reporter12 April 2012

A church minister's 15-year-old son found dead in a fume-filled car in an apparent suicide seemed to have everything to live for.

Richard Ball, who was discovered in the garage at the family home, had secured a place on a pre-veterinary studies course at West Anglia College in Milton, near Cambridge and had been assured he was on track to do well in his GCSEs.

He was also a prominent and popular member of the Boys Brigade and had a talent for composing his own music.

But police were called to the family's home in High Street, Sawston, Cambs, shortly after 7pm on Tuesday to find him dead after apparently committing suicide.

A post-mortem examination revealed that his death was probably due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Toxicological tests are now being carried out to confirm this, but Cambridgeshire Police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Students at Sawston Village College where Richard - known as Ric - was a popular Year 11 pupil were devastated by the news of his death.

They say he had everything to live for. The college has established a book of remembrance for the "gifted and likable" youth and a memorial event is also expected to be held.

College principal June Cannie said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Ric's family and friends. How they can begin to cope with such a devastating loss is difficult to comprehend. The shock of Ric's death has had a very serious impact on the life of the college.

"His friends and teachers are very distressed. We have established a book of remembrance in which many of our pupils are taking time to write their messages of sympathy or their memories of time spent with their friend.

"We will eventually pass the completed book to Ric's family and hope it will be a source of some comfort to them at this sad time."

The college plans to arrange a memorial event before the end of the school year, to commemorate Ric's life.

The teenager is to be buried in a private service today after a funeral at Sawston Free Church where his father Peter is the minister.

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