David Jones

David Jones was found dead in a communal shower at a property in Bradford Street, Bolton, at about 10.30am on 10 July 2021.

It was initially thought his death was drug related but his body was later found to bear the marks of an assault and a murder enquiry was launched.

However, at his inquest it was heard that his cause of death could not be determined.

Shortly after his body was found a man was arrested on suspicion of murder, with David Jones's death being described as unexplained.

It was noted that he had been arrested multiple times in the ten days before his death and thought that at some point whilst in police custody at Bury Custody Suite he had recieved injuries.

However, an investigation found that he had had no injuries when he had left to go to court, but that by the time he was arrested again the next day he had injuries. As such, it was stated that there was a missing 11 hour period that could not be accounted for during which he he might have been injured.

He had injuries to the head and neck. However, the Coroner stated that the medical evidence showed that he died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy by which the brain was starved of oxygen and blood which was most likely caused by a combination of heroin and diazepam. However, the Coroner said that due to the head and neck injuries, he could not rule out third party involvement.

Following the pathologists findings, the police launched a murder investigation and two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but later released. 

The police said:

His mother said:

David Jones had lived in Hardy Mill Road, Bolton. He had previously gone to university to study computer technology but had later become dependent on drugs.

When the Coroner recorded an open conclusion, he said: