A MAN’S body was discovered after neighbours noticed a smell in a block of flats.

An inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday heard Jerry Tuitt’s body was found at his home in South Field Park Flats on September 16 last year.

Neighbour Karin Ramungu, an assembly line worker at Cowley’s Mini plant, said he contacted Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police after noticing a smell in the building’s hallway.

In a statement read out to the court, Dc Charles Ellis said officers found Mr Tuitt “partially covered by bedding” and slightly faced down after officers forced entry into the flat.

He said “there were no obvious signs of injury or trauma” but it was difficult to tell because of the state of Mr Tuitt’s body.

Dc Ellis added: “There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.”

Consultant pathologist Sanjiv Mankek said it was not possible to establish a cause of death because Mr Tuitt’s body was so decomposed.

GP Stephen Willis, of Donnington Health Centre, said Mr Tuitt, who had a history of schizophrenia, often “did not respond to appointment invitation letters” from mental health services and was discharged from the service in May last year.

He added: “I had been informed from the local PCSO that he was managing well in the local community.”

Recording an open verdict coroner Darren Salter said: “There is no cause of death available. There is no significant evidence to give any other verdict.”

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