10:57am Saturday 20th March 2010
A POLICE murder inquiry into the death of a man who collapsed after being punched was halted due to a lack of medical evidence, an inquest heard.
Martyn Duffey collapsed outside a party where he had been celebrating a friend’s birthday after being hit by another reveller.
The 20-year-old fell to the ground unconscious following the tussle with pal Christopher Dean and was put in a car and taken to his home in Hythe, Southampton Coroner’s Court was told.
Martyn’s condition got worse and he died just metres from his home in Cedar Road.
Mr Dean was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident, which had started following an allegation that Martyn had sexually assaulted his girlfriend at the party in Viking Close, Blackfield.
However, proceedings against him were dropped by police in April last year.
Detective Sergeant Glyn White, who led the investigation into Martyn’s death, told the inquest yesterday that the Crown Prosecution Service had decided not to pursue the prosecution because it did not meet their criteria.
He added: “They were not prepared to proceed in this case because of the lack of medical evidence. That was the overriding factor.”
A post-mortem examination had revealed Martyn had died from bleeding at the base of his brain. Forensic pathologist Basil Purdue said it was likely the fatal injury had been caused by the blow or the subsequent fall – but that there was no definite medical evidence to suggest that. Dr Purdue told the court he found no bruising or marks to Martyn’s face, head or neck which could prove he had been hit.
He added: “There were no features to suggest Martyn had been involved in a fight or struggle of any kind, nor to indicate that he had been physically restrained.”
The post-mortem also found that Martyn had been three times the drink-drive limit and had also taken cannabis.
The court previously heard how following the incident in the early hours of December 20 2008, Tracey Hatch, the mother of the party’s host Liam Hatch, decided to drive support worker Martyn back to his parents’ house.
When they arrived, Mrs Hatch realised Martyn was seriously ill and called 999 while Mr Dean and retained firefighter David Ball,who lives in Cedar Road, attempted to resuscitate him. Martyn was rushed to Southampton General but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Proceeding.
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