Police - British man kills self with guillotine

LONDON -- A 36-year-old man killed himself with a homemade guillotine set up in his bedroom, police said Thursday.

Boyd Taylor's body was found Monday by his father, also named Boyd, Northumbria police said.

Taylor rigged a timer to the device and apparently set it to kill him early Monday, police said.

But police would not comment Thursday on widespread news reports that Taylor put a bed under the guillotine.

"This is a very unusual case," said Andrew Ward, a spokesman for Northumbria police. "There is no indication yet of what made him do this."

Northumbria police said the death was not considered criminally suspicious, and they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

Neighbors had little information about the Taylors, who they said worked together in the construction business.

"They kept themselves to themselves, and I have only seen them a few times, even though I have lived here for six years," said John Purdy, who lived nearby.