The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A RELATIVE of an elderly man found hanging from a tree in the yard of his Palmdale home last week hailed him as a “very loving” man who “didn’t show any signs of being unhappy” leading up to his death.

The relative, who did not want to be identified, told The Tribune that family members were all “shocked” when they discovered the man, who police yesterday identified as Delroy Anthony David Cartwright, hanging from a rope tied to a tree in the backyard of his Murphyville Road home last Thursday.

“We were very shocked because he didn’t show any signs of being unhappy,” the relative said. “We were all shocked. He had a great sense of humour; he was a very loving man.

“He was easy going and a lot of fun to be around. Like I said he had a really good sense of humour. Big family gatherings were always very lively, and when he was here he was a part of them.”

At the scene, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander, officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), said Cartwright was discovered shortly after 10.30am on Thursday in what police said was an apparent suicide.

Chief Supt Fernander said according to preliminary inquiries by police, relatives went out on the morning in question, leaving Cartwright home alone. When his niece returned, she could not find him.

A subsequent search of the entire house and the yard resulted in him being found hanging from a tree. Chief Supt Fernander said emergency medical services (EMS) personnel were subsequently called to the scene. They later confirmed that the body showed no signs of life.

Last week, Chief Supt Fernander said there was “nothing to suggest foul play” concerning Cartwright’s death.

He told The Tribune yesterday that police are still waiting on an autopsy report, which he said he expects to be completed sometime this week.