UK Police have reported that a former Royal Marine who was accused of aiding the Hong Kong intelligence service has been discovered deceased. Matthew Trickett, a 37-year-old Home Office immigration officer, had recently appeared in court facing charges under the National Security Act. His body was found in a park in Maidenhead, Berkshire by a passerby on Sunday, according to Thames Valley Police. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently unclear, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted in the near future.
On Tuesday evening, a black forensics tent was visible within a restricted area at the park’s center. Police officers were also present throughout the park.Authorities are urging anyone who was in the park on Sunday afternoon to share any information they may have.In a statement, Trickett’s family expressed their sorrow over the passing of their beloved son, brother, and family member.”We kindly ask the media to respect our privacy during this challenging period and refrain from disrupting our mourning,” they requested.
His death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course, the force added.Officers attended Grenfell Park in Maidenhead at around 17:15 BST on Sunday, where Trickett was found.He was given emergency treatment but was pronounced dead at the scene.Detectives are asking for anyone who was in the park on Sunday afternoon to come forward if they have any information.
His solicitor, Julian Hayes, said: “we are naturally shocked at this news and supporting his family as best as we can”.Trickett was an immigration officer, who had served as a Royal Marine for six years. He was the director of a security firm called MTR Consultancy.Last week, he was charged along with Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, under the National Security Act with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference.
After the three men were charged, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee condemned the “unwarranted” allegations against his city’s government, while China’s embassy in the UK slammed the “malicious fabrication and unwarranted accusation” against Hong Kong.
Riots broke out in 2019 after the city’s legislative council proposed a bill that would allow the extradition of fugitives to mainland China. While Lee withdrew the bill, activists – many of them based in the West – continued advocating for the city’s secession from China. Beijing considers such activism to be illegal separatism.
Between 20 December 2023 and 2 May, the three men are accused of agreeing to undertake information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service.It is also alleged that they forced entry into a UK residence on 1 May.The accused men spoke only to confirm their identities at their court appearance.During the initial hearing, prosecutors told judge Louisa Cieciora that Trickett had threatened suicide while in custody, and said that he was “going to kill himself” when released as he “has nothing to live for.”They had not yet entered pleas and were granted bail until this Friday, when they were due to appear again at the Old Bailey.