Drowned boater mystery

THERE is doubt that the boater discovered in the Stratford Canal died from drowning as first thought, but may have been murdered.

Adam Lobb was discovered by another boater in the water by the locks in the town, but the coroner had ruled there was not enough evidence to state how he died, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Living on boat

He had been living on his narrowboat on the Stratford Canal moored at the town, and was found nearby.

At the inquest into his death it was told that the pathologists who examined his body were unable to establish if his death was due to drowning, as he had had bruising around his eye and a cut underneath it.

Police investigation

The pathologist, Dr Kenneth Shorrock, said there was enough doubt to suggest police consider it could have been caused by a blow, and so there was a police investigation.

The police have decided the circumstances were suspicious enough to launch a full investigation, but after a detailed examination of the area, there is still no definite evidence as to how the injury was caused.

An open verdict was given, as coroner Sean Patrick McGovern, said there was insufficient evidence for any  other verdict.