London: The widow of an Oxford professor has denied her husband was murdered and termed as a "tragic accident" his death at the home of his close friend, an Indian-origin mathematician Devinder Sivia.
The body of Steven Rawlings, a 50-year-old astrophysicist, was found at the home of Sivia in Oxfordshire on Wednesday.
Sivia, a 49-year-old Sikh mathematics lecturer at Oxford University, was arrested.
He was released on bail Friday as police downgraded the investigation into Rawlings' death, reported Daily Mail.
Rawlings' widow Linda said: "It wasn't murder."
"Steve and Devinder were best friends since college and I believe this is a tragic accident."
"I do not believe that Steve's death is murder and I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way," she was quoted as saying.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, January 14, 2012, 14:44