this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024
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John Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017.

In the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

Boeing said it was saddened to hear of Mr Barnett's passing. The Charleston County coroner confirmed his death to the BBC on Monday.

It said the 62-year-old had died from a "self-inflicted" wound on 9 March and police were investigating.

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[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 125 points 9 months ago (3 children)

They should really make some sort of incentive to keep these people alive. Like if a whistle blower dies before the verdict of the trial/hearing make it an automatic assumption and multiply the punishment by 3 times (Treble!). Then you would have companies doing everything to not have whistle blowers die, not what we have today.

[–] kromem@lemmy.world 126 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Your competitors take out contract hits against your whistleblower and you need to have bodyguards to protect them.

And then your head of security and the whistleblower fall in love until at the end of the movie the competitor assassin gets into the court waiting room and the head of security throws themselves into the ninja star's way and dies in the whistleblower's arms as the ultimate sacrifice is made for love and corporate profits.

I tear up just thinking about it.

[–] Fuckfuckmyfuckingass@lemmy.world 42 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Bravo. Hope you make Hollywood kid, you got the vision we need.

[–] Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The current vision in Hollywood is sequels, reboots and milking any IP for all its worth.

[–] kromem@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Don't underestimate the franchise potential of The Whistleblower Bodyguard 4: Furious at Fast Food.

[–] felbane@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

"They didn't salt the god damned fries AGAIN!?"

organizes heist

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 13 points 9 months ago

I see this as an absolute win. Also kinda liking the idea of big companies spending money in a spy vs spy sort of thing.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 63 points 9 months ago (3 children)

They do have an disincentive, its called decades in jail if its discovered you kill him.

[–] genie@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago

Exactly this. In a fucked up way a rule like that would actually incentivise whistleblowers to become martyrs.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There should be presumption of guilt in this case.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What?? No that's ridiculous. People do kill themselves sometimes.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Then they'd be interested to hire him all kinds of councilors and security guards so that he doesn't kill himself.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What? And break into his home so he can't?

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That'll cost them less money and years of not seeing daylight, so why not.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Because don't you think that in itself is a form of witness intimidation? Won't people be hesitant to volunteer to testify during a lengthy trial if it means a security guard literally watching them sleep and shower for months.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I meant not that the witness would be obligated to accept that, but that a company would be interested to offer to pay for various measures to preserve their health, sanity and all that.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

But the claim was that he committed suicide, say you're concerned about the company killing you so you accept their security. Couldn't the security then just have a good reason to be in your house to "find the body" when you "slip in the shower"

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You don't get it, his death before giving witness is unconditionally considered a murder by the company.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So then someone else can kill him like others have said. But depending on what is being whistleblowed, someone in the company taking the fall for murder might not be as bad as what could be discovered. Especially if government agencies are included in this.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So then someone else can kill him like others have said.

Which is why company is interested in preventing that.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So its not really about justice for the murder?

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes, it's about preventing it.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

I feel like people more often die during a trial then get murdered during it.

[–] Railcar8095@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago

Step 1: Short company stocks Step 2: kill witness against the company Step 3: profit.

Just one example of that being a terrible idea

[–] GroteStreet@aussie.zone 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Or, short of that.. If you're whistleblowing on Boeing, you should go to Airbus and Lockheed and tell them, "it's in your best interest that I stay breathing".

[–] kerrypacker@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago

It's absolutely not. They don't want whistleblowers.

[–] agitatedpotato@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

Do not underestimate the level of solidarity rich people will display against anyone who challenges them.