Bevan Alfred Malcolm died Sept, 1980

"It's none of your business"
- John Brewerton, Exclusive Brethren

"When religion ceases to be concerned with love, humility and tolerance, then, whatever it is, it is not Christianity."
- Edgar Bradley, Coroner

The Coroner's findings were an indictment against the Exclusive Brethren:

Coroner's Summing Up At The Inquest Into The Death Of Bevan Malcolm

Edgar Bradley, Coroner
Timaru Court 9 December, 1980

“In spite of the evidence given by Mrs Malcolm it appeared she had almost been a bystander involved in a series of events over which she had little control.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that there is a direct link between the pressures exerted by some members of the Exclusive Brethren Church and this suicide.”

“I have the uneasy feeling that these members, without any qualms, will have fully justified to themselves their part in the events leading up to Mr. Malcolm’s death, fortified, no doubt, by some text (of scripture) taken out of context.”

“When religion ceases to be concerned with love, humility and tolerance, then, whatever it is, it is not Christianity.”

Although Bevan’s death shook the small community of Timaru Exclusive Brethren, they continued to defend their actions and claimed that his suicide was not directly related to him being withdrawn from, nor due to the immense pressure exerted on him to separate from his wife with the almost certain loss of his children.

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