BBC's Ray Gosling arrested

The host admitted he smothered his lover to death with a pillow...

12:44 17 February 2010

BBC TV documentarian Ray Gosling has been arrested on suspicion of murder by Nottinghamshire Police after he admitted killing his lover.

The BBC's 'Inside Out' programme, which was broadcast on Sunday, contained the confession from the 70-year-old, who stated that he had smothered the unnamed man who was dying of AIDS.

The Nottingham filmmaker said he had made a pact with his lover to act if his suffering increased.

Police have confirmed that they are questioning Gosling over his quote. A police spokesman said: "A 70-year-old Nottingham man was arrested earlier on suspicion of murder following comments made on the BBC's Inside Out programme on Monday evening."

Gosling has previously said he would not name his lover or say when the incident took place or at which hospital. He also claims to have no regrets.

Gosling claimed he would not co-operate with police, saying: "I'm not going to tell, no way, just like I wonÂ’t tell any of the secrets people told me. I wouldn't even tell under torture, because that was the pact and what we agreed."

"There are different kind of laws, there are laws that are written in books and there is a law in your heart and for me there was the law of the pact we had between each other.”

In the BBC East Midlands programme, Gosling told how he smothered the man with a pillow while he was in hospital after doctors told him that there was nothing further that could be done for him.

He said: "I said to the doctor: 'Leave meÂ… just for a bit,' and he went away.

"I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead.

"The doctor came back and I said: 'He's gone.' Nothing more was ever said.

"When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer."

He went on: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits.

"We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on.

"I don't think it's a crime."

Assisted suicide is a criminal offence but an increasingly controversial one to prosecute.