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SISTER TO SPEAK ABOUT BROTHER’S BENEFITS ORDEAL
• Mark Wood starved to death last year
THE sister of a Bampton man who starved to death last year after his benefits were cut is set to speak in Witney about her family’s ordeal this evening. Mark Wood died in his flat in August last year aged 44 after his benefits were cut to £40 a week. They were cut when he was assessed and declared fit for work by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the previous March. And his sister Cathie Wood will speak at Austerity Kills, being held at Langdale Hall from 7.30pm in Witney tonight, about what happened to her brother. “It was very confusing what happened to him because Mark was someone who was very poorly, but was struggling on and trying to live an independent life,” said Cathie. “So I just felt incredibly upset for him that he died in such an awful way in a state of panic whilst desperately trying to hold on to his independence and thinking he could cope on the money that was left when he
By Adam Flinn adam@taylornewspapers.co.uk
clearly couldn’t. “I want them to apologise for making this decision and him dying.” The event has been organised by the West Oxon Green Party, as Mr Wood used to be a serving member of the group. • Continues on page 3
• Mark Wood’s sister Cathie
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