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Police: U.N. Diplomat Falls to His Death From NYC Balcony After 'Trust Game' Goes Wrong

The Australian Flag / Getty
November 16, 2017

An Australian diplomat fell to his death from his Manhattan balcony early Wednesday after a game of "trust" went wrong following a night of drinking with his wife and friends, according to a new report.

Police sources told the New York Post that Julian Simpson, 30, was playing a "trust game" with a friend when he accidentally fell from the seventh floor to a second-floor landing and plunged to his death.

Simpson and his wife were out with friends for dinner and drinks before returning to their residence to look at the views from his wraparound roof deck, witnesses said.

The diplomat, who serves as the second secretary to the United Nations for Australia, climbed to a higher roof landing where he began swinging a female friend around. Later, the husband of that female friend stepped outside with Simpson to confront him about the gesture.

Sources said that Simpson indicated he meant no harm and wanted to prove to the husband that they could trust each other and suggested playing a "trust game."

The "game" included Simpson leaning back on the ledge and trusting the man to catch him before he would fall.

The man told investigators that Simpson got up on the balcony railing and sat on it facing the apartment and fell backwards. When the man put his arms out to catch Simpson, however, he slipped through and fell to his death.

Sources told the Post that investigators do not suspect any foul play, and everyone who police interviewed admitted to drinking alcohol that night.

A representative of the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations has not yet responded to the Post's request for comment.