A wife told how she reported her "deep thinking" husband missing to police after he left their home and did not return that evening.

Susan Branker was speaking at the inquest into the death of her husband Robert, 47, who was found hanged from a bridge on July 4 last year.

The father left their home in Silver End on July 2 and his body was later discovered in Bobbington Road, Bocking End, an inquest in Chelmsford heard yesterday.

Mrs Branker told Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray that she rang round her husband's friends to see if they knew where he was.

She thought he had "gone away to think" but said he had never before said he wanted to end his life.

PC Sue Keele, of Braintree police, said a letter was found in the Mr Branker's back pocket. A later post-mortem examination revealed Mr Branker had died from suspension.

Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded Mr Branker took his own life.

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Published Thursday, February 24, 2005

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