Former government lawyer Warwick Reid attempted a carbon-copy version of his brother Michael's suicide by driving his car to the same isolated New Zealand beach, downing a bottle of whisky and pumping the vehicle full of exhaust fumes.
Close friends revealed that Reid, who also swallowed a potentially fatal dose of anti-depressant pills, was now under round-the-clock watch by a hospital 'minder' amid fears he would try to take his life again.
Reid, 48, wanted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, is being treated in the same psychiatric ward of Tauranga Hospital as his brother, who spent several weeks in the special unit before taking his life on November 25 last year.
Michael Reid, also a lawyer, had a love-hate relationship with his brother. It was suggested Michael tipped off the ICAC leading to Warwick's arrest on corruption charges in 1989. Michael was 49 when he committed suicide.
Close friends said the only reason Reid failed in his bid at the isolated Pukehina Beach near Tauranga, was that he could not stomach the thick black fumes pumped from the exhaust pipe of his diesel van.
Tauranga police sergeant Ian Harris confirmed Reid had drunk whisky and taken pills but said he 'did not know' where the incident had taken place.
