UK rules out criminal angle to death of Russian whistleblower

A Russian mafia whistleblower, who died after going out for a run near his home in southern England six years ago, probably died of natural causes, a British coroner found on Wednesday.

Alexander Perepilichny, 44, was found dead near his luxury home on the exclusive gated St George's Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey, southwest of London, after he had been out jogging in November 2012.

The sudden nature of the death of Perepilichny, who had sought refuge in Britain in 2009, and his role in helping a Swiss investigation into a Russian money-laundering scheme sparked speculation that he might have been murdered.

(With inputs from agencies.)