Multimillionaire businessman Joshua Pack was found dead at his London mansion following a row with his wife, an inquest has heard. The 51-year-old private equity chief, whose investments include Majestic Wines and Poundstretcher, was discovered with a ligature around his neck in a locked bedroom at a property in St John's Wood in September.
Mr Pack's wife, Jacqueline Pack, told Inner West London Coroner's Court that her husband had been stressed about work and jet-lagged as he managed the expansion of his American fund into Europe. The couple had spent the day before his death drinking on and off before a heated argument erupted over flight booking problems. Mrs Pack described how her husband took out a knife and said, 'Stick it into me,' and both said they would kill themselves, though she never thought he meant it.
The following morning, Mrs Pack left for the airport after receiving confirmation that her husband had checked in for his flight to Dallas, but later discovered he had been automatically checked in by the airline. Housekeepers entered the locked bedroom via a crawl space and found Mr Pack dead. Police confirmed there was no evidence of third-party involvement or planning of his own death.
In her statement, Mrs Pack said her husband could be impulsive and had previously thrown himself off a balcony of a Swiss hotel after a row. The senior coroner, Professor Fiona Wilcox, recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, stating that while Mr Pack had ended his own life, there was insufficient evidence of intent to rule it a suicide. She noted his impulsive behaviour, jet lag, upset after an argument, work stress, and alcohol consumption.
Mr Pack, a devout Catholic and father of four, was described as a loving husband and father. He was born in Hawaii and met his wife at school in Texas. The couple had been married for 28 years.
