Oxford University is struggling to understand the tragedy that struck two of its brightest teachers, a mathematics lecturer and an astrophysics professor, friends of over 30 years.
Indian-origin Devinder Sivia, 49, lecturer at St. John’s College, was arrested by Thames Valley police Wednesday night after the body of Prof. Steven Rawlings was discovered at his home in Southmoor, Oxford. Dr Sivia was released Friday on police bail.
The police was called to Dr Sivia’s residence at Laurel Drive, Southmoor, at 11.22 pm Wednesday, after a phone call reported there had been an incident and a man was injured. The police and paramedical workers rushed there, but Prof. Rawlings was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prof. Rawlings, 50, who was married and was a fellow and tutor in physics at St. Peter’s College, Oxford, had been friends with Dr Sivia for 30 years and they had co-authored a book, Foundations Of Science Mathematics, in 1999. Prof. Rawlings had a doctorate from Cambridge.