Police investigating death of British man found in Sicily commune ‘rule out suicide’

Sicilian police investigating the death of a British man in a commune have ruled out suicide, according to a report, with the possibility his death was due to an erotic game gone wrong still being investigated.

Leeds-born Benjamin John Braithwaite, 35, was found at around 3am on September 13 in a commune between Noto and Canicattini Bagni in the Syracuse province.

Residents told authorities they found him after he had left a gathering while they were eating and playing music, according to The Times.

Following the autopsy authorities no longer believe Braithwaite, who is believed to have arrived a few days beforehand, took his own life, La Sicilia reported on Wednesday.

According to La Repubblica, the man was found naked near a farmhouse, where members of a secluded community had been living. Local reports claimed that imagery had been found nearby of “a goat’s head, several bottles of psychotropic drugs, and other objects suggesting rituals”.

Authorities had previously said there is no evidence linked to esoteric rituals – spiritual or magical traditions that can be performed by a group – found near the body.

Canicattini Bagni mayor and president of ANCI Sicilia, Paolo Amenta, said those living in the communal farmhouses in the area are graduates who chose to live in isolation.

“The young people who decided to live in those areas are also graduates who chose to leave everything behind. We hope the investigations can clarify what happened,” he said.

“These are people I’ve met in the evenings, especially during events organised in the village. They’ve always been kind. They live in reorganised villages surrounded by nature.”

A British foreign office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities.”