His lawyer, Saimo Chahal of Bindmans, said Nicklinson's wife, Jane, told her after the draft judgment was handed down on August 12, that "the fight seemed to go out of him"."She said that he was heartbroken by the high court's decision that he could not end his life at a time of his choosing with the help of a doctor," Chahal said.
Nicklinson, 58, died at home at 10am on Wednesday, with his wife, his daughters Beth and Lauren, as well as his sister Ginny, at his side. All had supported his legal action to be helped to die.Police said Nicklinson's doctor had certified that his death was from natural causes and they were not involved.
Chahal visited Nicklinson two days after the High Court decision, along with his barrister, Paul Bowen QC.Communicating via a computer, which he operated by eye movements, he told her: "So, we lost. In truth I am crestfallen, totally devastated and very frightened. I fear for the future and the misery it is bound to bring."I suppose it was wrong of me to invest so much hope and expectation in the judgment but I really believed in the veracity of the arguments and quite simply could not understand how anybody could disagree with the logic. I guess I forgot the emotional component."Nicklinson's despair following last week's ruling was evident to all, as he broke into sobs that shook his paralysed body. He and his wife said they would appeal. "I believe the legal team are prepared to go all the way, but it means yet another period of physical discomfort and mental anguish for me," he said at the time.
