Ex-caretaker's death remains a mystery (From Falmouth Packet)

Ex-caretaker's death remains a mystery

8:10am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News

A former Helston caretaker was found dead lying in a pool of his own blood that was smeared across the wall, an inquest has heard.

The scene initially sparked a major police incident on March 22 last year, but detectives quickly decided there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of 51-year-old David Francis Johns.

He was found lying on the bedroom floor at his home in Penberthy Road, Helston, with two cuts to his head – one of them major.

However, pathologist Russell Delaney said there was nothing in the post-mortem to suggest an assault had taken place. Instead, the injuries were “entirely in keeping” with a fall.

DC Rob Denton of Camborne CID said that on the day Mr Johns was discovered police had been alerted by the ambulance service, who in turn had been contacted by a concerned neighbour.

He said officers had ruled out suspicious circumstances after speaking with neighbours, and he described Mr Jones as “very quiet, very popular and inoffensive.”

There was no sign of a robbery or burglary, with his wallet and electric guitar untouched.

DC Denton said blood was found in “at least three rooms and a hallway.”

His hypothesis was that Mr Johns had been drinking (empty bottles of vodka were found next to his chair), had fallen and banged his head, gone to the kitchen to wash off the blood and then gone to bed, when he had fallen again and suffered a second, fatal head injury.

“It’s a dreadful accident, in my opinion,” he added.

Coroner Barrie Van den Berg said the evidence did not conclusively reveal what had happened and recorded an open verdict.