A wealthy individual who owns a private equity firm with various popular brands such as Majestic Wine and Poundstretcher was discovered deceased following a heated argument with his spouse, according to an inquest. Joshua Pack, aged 51, was found in a locked room in his rented residence in St John’s Wood, Westminster, after the dispute. The couple had relocated from the US to the UK to oversee the expansion of investment company Fortress, valued at $50 billion (£37 billion).
In a statement provided to the inquest, Jacqueline Pack mentioned that she and her husband, married for 28 years, had been arguing intensely before his passing, with alcohol consumption playing a role. Mrs. Pack described their relationship as enduring but acknowledged the existence of tensions typical in long-term marriages.
According to Mrs. Pack, the argument began when her husband learned about issues with his flight tickets back to the US, which he had tried to reschedule to accompany her. The disagreement escalated at their mansion, leading Mr. Pack to exhibit erratic behavior, including throwing objects and brandishing a knife. Although both individuals made threats during the incident, Mrs. Pack stated it was not uncommon during their arguments and did not believe her husband intended harm.
Household staff discovered Mr. Pack deceased the following day, and the coroner’s court ruled the cause of death as a misadventure. If in need of support, the Samaritans offer a free helpline service 24/7.