Car Thief Died After Philosophy Professor Accidentally Put Him in 'Headlock'

Daniel Smith died after Dr. Charlie Thame tried to stop him from stealing his car in Devon, England

NEED TO KNOW

• A car thief died after a philosophy professor put him in a “headlock” to stop him from stealing his vehicle
• Daniel Smith, 35, attempted to steal a car belonging to Dr. Daniel Thame while trying to escape police officers pursuing him in connection with a burglary
• Thame told a coroner’s court in the U.K. that he put his arm under Smith’s armpit to stop him from taking the car, but it then slipped into a headlock

A philosophy professor who watched a car thief die after he placed him in a "headlock" has avoided jail after the death was ruled as accidental.

On Thursday, June 10, Exeter Coroner's Court in southern England confirmed to PEOPLE that Dr. Charlie Thame had been cleared of any wrongdoing after Daniel Smith, 35, died in July 2022.

This came after Smith ran into the Thames' unlocked home and stole his car keys, reported U.K. newspapers The Times and The Telegraph.

Smith then climbed into Thame's car and attempted to drive away, after which the professor jumped into the passenger seat with his legs hanging outside the vehicle, the outlets added.

The car thief — who was being chased by police in connection with a burglary when he broke into Thame's house — then reversed the car and crashed into a gate post, the outlets reported from the hearing on Tuesday, June 9.

Thame also described Smith as being like a "trapped wild animal" during the incident and said he punched and grabbed him while both men were inside the car.

Thame, who is a professor of philosophy at Thammasat University in Bangkok, told the coroner that he was also worried Smith had a knife and stated that he only slipped into a headlock when Thame tried to pull Smith from the vehicle, The Telegraph reported.

Smith stopped struggling against Thame as neighbor Deborah Day screamed and said he was unconscious, per The Times.

Thame said he released Smith "immediately," and added that he was placed on the ground and given chest compressions.

He also denied a claim from Day that his knee was on Smith's neck, and described it as a "complete misrepresentation and fabrication" of events, reported The Telegraph. He added that he thought Smith was on opiates due to his foaming mouth and dilated pupils.

The professor told the coroner that during the attack he was worried that Smith would kill or harm him or drive at his father, Geoff Thame, who was standing on the driveway.

"If I had not done what I did, my father would not be sitting here today,” he said, via The Times. “I probably saved two lives. My actions were entirely justifiable at the time and in hindsight.”

Thame admitted that the force he used to stop Smith gradually escalated, while his father said the whole thing was "a bit surreal" and that his son had shouted at Smith to "get out of my f—ing car" before the pair got into a physical confrontation, per The Times.

His father added that Smith appeared “wild, very agitated, wide-eyed and frothing at the mouth," The Telegraph reported.

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"He was out cold," he added of Smith following the headlock, per The Times. "Charlie said, 'I hope he is alright, I hope he is alright.' "

Day told the hearing that Thame put Smith in a headlock but "did not intend to kill him," and acknowledged that his actions could have saved her own life by stopping the car thief from driving at her.

Smith died of cardiac arrest combined with acute behavioral disturbance, cocaine use and holding restraint, The Times reported.

Detective Constable Sharon Moore, of Devon and Cornwall Police, told the hearing that Thame was interviewed by police after Smith's death and that "no further action would be taken against Dr. Thame whatsoever," she added, per The Telegraph.

The coroner added that Thame restrained Smith for "no longer than one minute and 45 seconds and probably a shorter period," reported the Manchester Evening News.

"He released him as soon as he realised he was unconscious," the coroner added, per the outlet.

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