BRITISH scientist Alan Turing – regarded as the father of modern computing – may not have committed suicide as is widely believed, it was claimed yesterday.
The mathematical genius and Second World War code-breaker, was found dead in his bed at the age of 41 in 1954, with a half-eaten apple beside him.
A coroner ruled Turing committed suicide "while the balance of his mind was disturbed". It is widely said he poisoned himself with cyanide in the apple to end the persecution he was suffering as a result of his homosexuality. But Turing expert Jack Copeland, a professor at the University of Canterbury Christchurch in New Zealand, yesterday questioned the inquest's findings as events took place around the world to mark what would have been Turing's 100th birthday.
He said medical evidence suggested Turing died from inhaling cyanide rather than drinking or ingesting it – and police reported a strong smell of cyanide coming from Turing's lab, where he used it for amateur experiments.
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