THERE may be no inquest into the death of a man found in an Oxford churchyard.
Oxford Coroner’s Court is yet to schedule one after the unnamed victim was found in St Frideswide Church, on Botley Road - and, if he died of natural causes, there will be no inquest at all.
READ AGAIN: Churchyard man was sleeping rough
Last month the Oxford Mail revealed that the man, in his 60s, was sleeping rough and found alive. Police were called to the scene at 10.30pm on Tuesday, February 5 and say his next of kin have been informed.
It is not known if the Coroner’s Office are awaiting results from a toxicology test, which would be likely to take weeks. But it is understood that drugs paraphernalia were found near the scene.
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Thames Valley Police (TVP) spokesman James Williams said: “This is a non-suspicious death and the coroner is now investigating.” Asked if he could provide the man’s name, he added: “This would be the coroner’s jurisdiction.”
The Coroner's Office said it could not comment.
Speaking about the incident last month,Oxford City Council’s deputy leader Linda Smith, who is also board member for housing, said: “TVP have not confirmed the name of the man to us, or whether or not he was a rough sleeper.
“When the police have confirmed the circumstances we will include his case in our referral to the Adult Safeguarding Board if appropriate.”
The death was the latest in a series this winter in Oxford, with as many as five other fatalities since November.
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