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Questions mount over death of undercover journalist in Zimbabwe
Monday, 28 July 2008
The funeral of Northern Ireland photojournalist Richard Mills will take place tomorrow — with his grieving family refusing to accept he committed suicide.
Mr Mills (42) was on an undercover assignment for The Times newspaper in Zimbabwe when the tragedy occurred two weeks ago.
The Zimbabwean authorities said the renowned lensman, brother of local BBC television news reporter Tara Mills, died of asphyxiation by hanging.
But the exact circumstances surrounding the July 14 fatality are still unclear, making it even more difficult for his family to come to terms with their dreadful loss.
And his heartbroken father, Richard Snr, said he was finding it almost impossible to accept that his only son died by suicide.
“The official line is that he took his own life,” said Mr Mills.
“But we’re getting conflicting stories. That’s probably the most difficult thing. The death certificate says he died from asphyxiation due to hanging. We find that incomprehensible. It’s totally out of character for him.”
The award-winning frontline photojournalist, who had worked on assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, had been due to leave Zimbabwe the day after he died.“We have evidence from emails he sent to his wife Zoe (41) that he was looking forward to moving into their new house in Scotland and he was looking forward to coming home to see his son Finn (5),” added Mr Mills.
“Also, the morning before he died he signed a guardianship for a young Zimbabwean boy — the son of friends — who was going to school in Edinburgh.
“These are not the actions of someone contemplating taking their own life. You can see where questions arise for us.”
In fact, when the devastating call came, 69-year-old Mr Mills thought something had happened to his daughter-in-law, an RAF squadron leader stationed in Basra.
“When the phone rang at 5.30am it was the padre from Basra. I automatically assumed he had bad news about Zoe . . . then he told me Richard had been killed. We might ask for an inquest here,” he added.
Richard was working on a particular assignment when he died.
“That morning, Richard had interviewed a white farmer who was almost beaten to death after speaking out against Mugabe because land and property was being illegally usurped. He felt he was doing a very important job,” he said.
A funeral service for Richard is due to take place at Roselawn Cemetery tomorrow at 3pm.
‘He often took great personal risks for sake of his craft’
As the Mills family attempts to get to grips with the shocking news of Richard’s death, tributes have been pouring in from friends and colleagues across the world.
Among them Martin Fletcher, former foreign editor of The Times. He sent a poignant letter to the award-winning photojournalist’s wife Zoe, describing his colleague as a “wonderful, warm, funny, big-hearted man”.
“Richard was like no other photographer I have ever worked with,” he said.
“He would not rest until he got the perfect shot. I remember him making me drive up and down a back road in Zimbabwe umpteen times until he secured precisely the right picture of a man selling a pitiful bunch of carrots on the verge. Often he took great personal risks for the sake of his craft.”
Mr Fletcher also spoke of their adventures together: “He was brave. There was nowhere he would not go. But he was also soft-hearted and was very moved by the plight of Sarudzai Gumbo, the eight-year-old Aids victim whom we found in Zimbabwe and whose life he tried to save. He did so much for her — getting her into a private hospital, arranging for a specialist to see her, visiting her whenever he went to Harare.”
Richard’s 69-year-old father, also called Richard, meanwhile, is trying to come to terms with his heartache.
“His son Finn had been staying with us and I talked to Richard a number of times the week before he died,” he said. “He called every day. He told me he was hoping to get back to London on Monday, July 14, and he hoped to be in Belfast on Wednesday. That’s another mystery. He was due to come home the day after he died.”
He added: “Richard was always upbeat and positive. His mother and I worried about him. I asked him if his work had a profound effect on him and he said: ‘You get used to it’.
“He tried to protect us to a certain extent. He did a piece on the most dangerous road in the world, between Kuwait and Baghdad, for example, and we only saw it after it happened.”
The editor of The Times, James Harding, said Richard’s death had come as a great shock.
“Richard was an outstanding photographer. We are deeply shocked and saddened by his death,” he said.
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32 Comments
I Used to room with Richie for 2years when we were stationed at RAF High wycombe. The man was a Pure Gentleman and a very good friend to all of his mates at RAF High Wycombe. His favorite saying was ' You Now What It Is '
RIP Mate from
Woody, Gaz Owen, Snelly, Tommy, Qinny, Si Weston, Daz Smith, Graham Lylie & Boyce
Posted by woody | 02.03.09, 06:59 GMT
just got to grips with technoloy. richard was my best mate at school. friday nights at shane park. history lessons with mr hawthorn. zimbabwe took you and broke our hearts. one love.
Posted by Stuarty McGimpsey | 19.01.09, 00:19 GMT
Ritchie rang me from Zimbabwie in July full of excitement about a book he was producing, he spoke of our time together at RAF Bruggen and that he was missing Finn and Zoe and just wanted to be home with them; we also chatted about his sister Tara (he was so proud of her) and his Father Richard and h is amateur dramatics, he was upbeat but sounded lonely there was no indication in his voice to suggest what happened. I remember Ritchie attempting to teach me maths (simulations equations) when we served together in Germany, his patients with my slow understanding of the subject was wonderful and his light-hearted manner made the learning process so much fun, we joked about it when we last spoke. Ritchie Mills was a very special person and will be deeply missed by all who served and worked with him. God Bless you Ritchie. Per Ardua Ad Astra.
Posted by Dave Bassett | 09.09.08, 13:49 GMT
To the friends and Family of my friend Richard( may his soul rest in peace,
I have worked with Richard in Afghanistan. We were together during the elections of 2004 and also in december 2007. I met him first when he came to interview me in Afghanistan as the Program Manager for Demobilization of Underaged Soldiers in Afghanistan and we became friends.
For me and all his friends in Afghnistan his death is a shock. We can never beleive that a man like Richard can ever think of doing so. He was a person full of life. He enjoyed every minute of it; and I have never seen him depressed. The last time we were together, we went to see the refugees near the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul. The kids there had swolen feet due to intense cold and some had also lost their lives. We spent all the our money and bought them shoes. I can not forget when he gave his own coat to an old man and he started shavering with cold.Mr. Richard had also talked to his friends in UK and tried to help afterwards.
Posted by M. Yousuf Ghaznavi | 30.08.08, 11:48 GMT
I also went to Newtownbreda High with Richard and stumbled upon this sad news on Wikipedia. I suppose I hadn't seen him in around 20 years but was unsurprised to hear he had reached the top of his field. Millsey was like that....focused and passionate. One small consolation is that part of him will live on in the body of work he left for us all.
Vale Millsey.
Posted by Colin Boreland, Melbourne | 04.08.08, 00:11 GMT
Last December I had the pleasure of meeting Richard when he was working in Colorado. Albeit a brief time, Richard left an indelible impression. Richard was a force of life and undoubtedly like anyone who spent even 5 minutes with him, I was dismayed, troubled, and so saddened to learn of his passing. He was so proud of his family, his work, and his height! My warmest sympathies to his family and friends. Let us all raise a pint to Richard!
Posted by Kristen H. Cook | 02.08.08, 17:08 GMT
My thoughts go out to Ritchie's family at this sad time. He taught me the craft of capturing imagery and I will never forget his patience and enthusiasm for the job. He will be sadly missed.
Posted by Sergeant Vince Roberts | 02.08.08, 16:54 GMT
I am deeply saddened by this news. I met Richard while he was covering a story in the States about amputee soldiers returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. His enthusiasm for life and his compassion for others were remarkable. I am so very sad for his family and for all of us who gained a glimpse into the harsh realities of conflict through his photographs. My thoughts and deepest sadness are with his family who should know what a wonderful ambassador Richard was for Northern Ireland.
Posted by Katherine Spicer | 01.08.08, 23:38 GMT
Our thoughts are with Richie's family at this sad time. He had a great talent and will be sadly missed for that and for his sense of humour and larger than life personality. Jonny Boy and Jilly Molyneux.
Posted by Jon Molyneux, Lincolnshire | 01.08.08, 11:23 GMT
I have been fortunate to have known and worked with Richard as colleague and friend. He and his talent will be greatly missed. My and my wife's thoughts are with his family. Gordy & Becs Elias
Posted by Gordy Elias | 31.07.08, 19:49 GMT
I went to primary school with Tara but i knew both Richard and his other sister Pat as well and have fond childhood memories of all three of them. I only found out about this travesty today and am greatly saddened by the news. My thoughts go out to the Mills family. Stuart McGall
Posted by Stuart McGall, Comber | 30.07.08, 01:16 GMT
Richie was a gifted photographer when we worked together at RAF Wittering in the 90's. He carried his talent into civvy street and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
My thoughts are with his family.
Posted by Al King, Chelmsford | 29.07.08, 23:27 GMT
I am Shocked to hear of the death of the son of my old and dear friends, Richard and Pat Mills.The truth must be uncovered.
Roy Larmour, BBC London.
Posted by Roy Larmour | 29.07.08, 19:14 GMT
So so sorry to hear of Richard's death, always followed and have taken interest in his work, marvelling that such talent was exercised - no point in having something and not using it. He used and shared his qualities - sincerest condolences to wife, son and family circle.
Posted by Hazel Hunter | 29.07.08, 11:52 GMT
thats saddening .....i am very very sorry to the family
Posted by carrington chawasarira | 29.07.08, 11:01 GMT
I'm totally shocked by the news and find it hard to accept the official verdict. Richard was one of the most generous, happy and warm hearted blokes I have met. My sympathy to his family.
Posted by John Baker | 29.07.08, 08:33 GMT
I would like to send my condolences and deepest sympathy to the Mills family in Belvoir Park and to Richards wife and young son in Scotland. I grew up with Richard on the Belvoir housing estate in Belfast were we attended Belvoir Park Primary School together and then onto Newtownbreda High School. Richard was a true gentleman and great competitor as anyone who knew him will testify to. He also tried to make a difference in peoples lives, showed great compassion for those worse off than himself and went beyond the call of duty when it came to him reporting in some of the worlds deadliest war zones. But ultimately, it cost him his life at the hands of Mugabe's henchmen. It's a sad day for everyone who knew Richard and a great loss to humanity.
Posted by Robert Mullen | 29.07.08, 02:37 GMT
Richard was one of my best friends throughout High School, I was very sad to hear of his death and would like to send my sincere sympathy to the entire family. I will remember him with great fondness.
Posted by Jeremy Atkinson, Saintfield | 28.07.08, 23:01 GMT
The untimely death of Richard Mills serves to highlight the great courage of photo journalists like Richard who risk all to uncover the realities of what is going on in dangerous locations like Zimbabwe. Condolences to his family and friends.
Posted by Ian Johnston | 28.07.08, 21:53 GMT
I served with Richie as a photog at RAF Wittering in 1998. As a fellow Ulsterman we shared the same sense humour and always had a laugh and a bit of crack. A talented and passionate photographer Richie will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Posted by Flight Lieutenant Eddy Dunlop | 28.07.08, 21:51 GMT
32 Comments