Age: 42
Sex: male
Date: 3 Apr 2020
Place: 9 Smith Street, Stockton
Anthony Alan Leslie Shaw died after he fell from a window on 3 April 2020.
Six people, five men and a woman, were initially arrested on suspicion of his murder but later released, with the police saying that there was no longer an ongoing criminal investigation.
Anthony Shaw died from a blunt force head injury after falling from a first-floor window at 9 Smith Street in Stockton. A murder investigation was opened on 8 April 2020.
The people arrested were:
They were all released on 14 April 2020 under investigation but later discharged, with the police stating that they were no longer holding a criminal investigation.
He was found outside his flat which was between Knights Pharmacy 365 and The North Eastern pub in Smith Street.
It was heard that his home had been being used to sell drugs, but that after he fell from the window no one called for an ambulance.
Anthony Shaw was later found in the street by a pharmacy worker who called 999 at about 10.55pm and he was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.
His post mortem found that he died from a head injury and that at the time he had had a number of drugs in his system. However, it was noted that when he first arrived at the hospital that it was not obvious that he had had a head injury and it was initially thought he had taken a large amount of methadone and he was treated for an overdose and diabetes.
However, it was later found that he had extensive brain damage but that consultants determined that nothing surgical could be done for him.
At his inquest a witness said that they had seen Anthony Shaw trying to push his way out of the window earlier in the evening. She said that she tried to grab him as he did so, and that he had previously threatened to throw himself out of the window. However, the woman said that he then fell from the window to the pavement below. She noted that it was the second time that he had tried to throw himself out of the window that evening.
It was heard that people approached Anthony Shaw as he lay on the pavement, but that no one helped him or called for an ambulance.
Anthony Shaw's brother and a friend said that they had visited Anthony Shaw's flat earlier in the day and found a number of people there along with indications of drug dealing and drug use.
It was noted that whilst there had been an element of Anthony Shaw having been taken advantage of over the use of his flat for drugs, that it was also thought that he had been open to the idea in exchange for money or drugs.
His brother said that whilst he was at the flat that he noticed that there had been a sign of verbal aggression against Anthony Shaw, but that when he asked Anthony Shaw whether he wanted to come back to his home, he declined.
It was noted that Anthony Shaw had been seen earlier in the day by pharmacy staff at Knights Pharmacy 365 at 6.15pm when he had collected his methadone, at which time it was stated there was nothing the matter with him.
However, his inquest heard that when he returned to his flat that he started to suffer from paranoia and that his behaviour changed. The Coroner later said, 'There was an allegation he used a lot of his methadone. There was a low amount in his system at the time'.
The police later said, 'There's no available evidence to support the account that Anthony was pushed from the window by any persons present. It's likely that Anthony has fallen either by accident or intentionally while under the influence of drugs or substances. There's an allegation that spice was given to Anth without his knowledge but this cannot be proved. There's evidence that Anth was scared of people at the address and he's jumped or falling due to this fear'.
The police also stated that there was no evidence of any suspicious circumstances or third party involvement associated with his death.
His post mortem further stated that there was no medical evidence to indicate that he had been lifted out the window.
At the conclusion of the inquest, the Coroner said, 'I accept and record that Anth died as a result of blunt force head injury'. However, Anthony Shaw's mother said, 'I don't think he would have jumped'. The Coroner then stated, 'I accept the view from the family was that he didn't intend to kill himself. Unfortunately as he was under the influence of drugs at the time we can't determine whether it was an accident or something he wished to do'.
The Coroner then returned a narrative verdict, noting that they could not be satisfied that it was suicide, unlawful killing or an accident. The Coroner said, 'On the evening of the 3rd April 2020 Anthony Alan Leslie Shaw exited a first floor window at 9 Smith Street Stockton whilst under the influence of drugs. He sustained impact injuries with the ground below. He died on the 5th April 2020 at the University Hospital of North Tees as a result of these injuries'.
