THE wife of Professor Steven Rawlings said she does not believe he was murdered by fellow Oxford academic Dr Devinder Sivia.
The 50-year-old astrophysicist died at Dr Sivia’s house in Southmoor, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday night, prompting the police to launch a murder enquiry.
Linda Rawlings said: “I will miss him more than anything else in the world. I do not believe that Steve’s death is murder and I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way.”
“Steve and Devinder were best friends since college and I believe this is a tragic accident.
“Steve was the love of my life and we have known each other all of these years and he has never changed, even though he has achieved so much and has all these qualities."
Dr Sivia was arrested at his home and questioned by police, but has now been bailed pending further police enquiries.
A post mortem was unable to confirm a cause of death for Prof Rawlings and further tests will now be carried out in the coming weeks.
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