AFC Bournemouth footballer, 26, hanged himself after being charged with rape, inquest hears

A former AFC Bournemouth footballer hanged himself the day he faced a charge of raping a woman at a four-star hotel in London, an inquest has heard.

Clive Makoni, 26, told his girlfriend of four years he simply wanted to save his family from further anguish, although he maintained he was innocent and had no memory of the alleged rape in a 4-star hotel in London.

Before his death he said he could plead guilty just to spare his family the agony of a trial, an inquest heard today.

The footballer was found dead by a cleaner at an Airbnb where he was staying in Kings Somborne, near Winchester, Hampshire, on September 9, 2020.

An inquest by Winchester Coroners Court found he was due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court that day, charged with rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

Prosecutors claimed he attacked a woman at the London Bridge Hotel on August 18 last year, but the investigation was halted after his death.

His girlfriend, Bethany Young, who met Mr Makoni at university where he was studying sports management, described him as “very smart” and that “everyone who knew him loved him”.

She said he had absolutely no recollection of the alleged assault.

Testifying, she said: “There are many ways to describe Clive.

“To know Clive was to love Clive. Everyone loved him, just his presence, and he had such an impact on everyone’s life, no matter what you needed.

“He was someone you turned to for advice, or he could be the life of the party.”

She described the impact of the allegations on their relationship and said Mr Makoni was taking medication for anxiety and had trouble sleeping.

She added: ‘[A few weeks before] I spoke to the lead investigator on the case and he said he thought they had enough evidence to go to court to get a conviction so in my mind that was the point where I thought that I couldn’t do it anymore.

She said Mr Makoni was upset after the split but understood why and the couple remained close until his death.

On the morning he was due to appear in court, Miss Young said she called him and they talked for about three hours.

She added: ‘[We] discussed what he was going to plead because he had no recollection, he said he could plead guilty so that me, his mother and his sisters would not have to go through a trial.

“I said you can’t plead guilty if you’re not – you have to go to trial to get the evidence.”

The court heard that shortly afterwards Clive spoke to another friend and said: ‘If I die today my life will have been great.’

Makoni spent spells at non-league clubs in Hampshire, including Tadley Calleva FC and Bashley FC, as well as managing the Bournemouth University men’s football team.

He was a frequent goalscorer for the college side, netting a hat-trick against Bournemouth Electric in April 2019.

Giving his conclusion, Coroner Jason Pegg said: ‘Clive was studying for an MBA at university and it seems to me his relationship was ruined when he faced allegations in criminal court.

“Clearly this had an impact on their relationship and in early September Clive moved out of the house he shared with Ms Young.”

He added: “The impact of these allegations, and allegations they are, was such that it caused Clive anxiety and sleep disturbances.”

He said it was clear, in part because of a rope purchased days earlier, that Mr Makoni intended to end his life and therefore recorded a verdict of suicide.

The cause of death was given as hanging.

The London Bridge Hotel website describes it as “a unique four-star boutique property in the heart of the capital”.

It adds: ‘Its prime position in the Southwark area, next to London Bridge station, Borough Market and the Square Mile, makes it attractive to city shoppers and business travellers.’