ianstone
10-11-2010, 06:33 AM
Bungling police called to death of man,
'failed to spot he had knife sticking out of his back'
Last updated at 11:15 AM on 11th October 2010 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/11/article-1319510-0B90C0A4000005DC-387_233x423.jpg Victim: 66-year-old Antoine Denis was found slumped in his flat in January, but police failed to spot that the 12cm knife in his back
A coroner has criticised police after they failed to spot a man had been murdered - until undertakers discovered a knife sticking out of his back, an inquest has heard.
Antoine Denis, 66, was found slumped on his back in the bedroom of his flat in Chatham, Kent, in January this year. Detectives at the scene pronounced the father-of-four dead but found nothing that suggested a crime had been committed.
It was only when undertakers arrived to remove the body that they found blood and a 12cm (4.7in) knife stuck up to its hilt in Mr Denis' back.
One of the officers received a verbal warning following an internal police investigation into the handling of the as yet unsolved murder.
Mid Kent and Medway coroner Roger Sykes criticised the police handling of the case and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at an inquest into the death held in Maidstone, Kent, on Thursday.
He said: 'My understanding is that in the process of the undertaker's preparation it was discovered there was some blood and indeed a knife and at that stage investigating officers attended.'
Detective Constable Linda Robb said: 'That is true. I think because of the flat being in darkness and him lying on his back there was no outward sign of anything untoward.'
Coroner Sykes concluded with an appeal for anyone with information about the murder to contact Kent Police.
He said: 'It is always unsatisfactory when I conclude an inquest when the full circumstances have not been revealed.'
The inquest heard worried neighbour Peter McDonald called at Mr Denis' flat in Chatham, Kent, on January 9 because he had not seen him since December 23.
He discovered the front door was ajar and entered the property before contacting police after finding no sign of his neighbour.
Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the retired painter and decorator lying on his bedroom floor. A police nurse then pronounced him dead.
But when undertakers arrived to remove the the corpse they rolled him over and found dried blood and a knife in his back.
Detectives recovered the knife and police spent almost three days at the flats carrying out forensic investigations.
In April an internal investigation was opened into the handling of the crime scene and an officer was spoken to about procedural matters.
Coroner Sykes told the inquest Antoine died from a single stab wound, which penetrated his lung on or around December 27 last year.
Kim Albone, of Chatham, was arrested and charged with the murder on January 21 but was later released after a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Antoine lived alone for 12 years but his family has carried out a leaflet campaign appealing for help.
In a statement the family said: 'Not many people are aware that Antoine had a family who cared about him. He was a brother, uncle and also a father to four grown-up children. We have been deeply affected by his death and we would ask anybody who knows anything about what happened to help.'
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Chewter has appealed for anyone with information on the murder to come forward.
He said: 'We are continuing to appeal for any new information in relation to the murder of Antoine Denis and would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw him in the Chatham area before January 9.
'We believe that someone may still hold vital information and would like them to come forward no matter how small they think the details are.'
Speaking today, coroner Sykes criticised police for failing to examine Antoine's body 'thoroughly'.
He said: 'It appeared the police officers who attended found him on the floor and thought it was not suspicious.
'But they clearly didn't examine the body thoroughly. It was only when undertakers who began to move him noticed there was blood and then found the knife.
'failed to spot he had knife sticking out of his back'
Last updated at 11:15 AM on 11th October 2010 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/11/article-1319510-0B90C0A4000005DC-387_233x423.jpg Victim: 66-year-old Antoine Denis was found slumped in his flat in January, but police failed to spot that the 12cm knife in his back
A coroner has criticised police after they failed to spot a man had been murdered - until undertakers discovered a knife sticking out of his back, an inquest has heard.
Antoine Denis, 66, was found slumped on his back in the bedroom of his flat in Chatham, Kent, in January this year. Detectives at the scene pronounced the father-of-four dead but found nothing that suggested a crime had been committed.
It was only when undertakers arrived to remove the body that they found blood and a 12cm (4.7in) knife stuck up to its hilt in Mr Denis' back.
One of the officers received a verbal warning following an internal police investigation into the handling of the as yet unsolved murder.
Mid Kent and Medway coroner Roger Sykes criticised the police handling of the case and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at an inquest into the death held in Maidstone, Kent, on Thursday.
He said: 'My understanding is that in the process of the undertaker's preparation it was discovered there was some blood and indeed a knife and at that stage investigating officers attended.'
Detective Constable Linda Robb said: 'That is true. I think because of the flat being in darkness and him lying on his back there was no outward sign of anything untoward.'
Coroner Sykes concluded with an appeal for anyone with information about the murder to contact Kent Police.
He said: 'It is always unsatisfactory when I conclude an inquest when the full circumstances have not been revealed.'
The inquest heard worried neighbour Peter McDonald called at Mr Denis' flat in Chatham, Kent, on January 9 because he had not seen him since December 23.
He discovered the front door was ajar and entered the property before contacting police after finding no sign of his neighbour.
Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the retired painter and decorator lying on his bedroom floor. A police nurse then pronounced him dead.
But when undertakers arrived to remove the the corpse they rolled him over and found dried blood and a knife in his back.
Detectives recovered the knife and police spent almost three days at the flats carrying out forensic investigations.
In April an internal investigation was opened into the handling of the crime scene and an officer was spoken to about procedural matters.
Coroner Sykes told the inquest Antoine died from a single stab wound, which penetrated his lung on or around December 27 last year.
Kim Albone, of Chatham, was arrested and charged with the murder on January 21 but was later released after a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Antoine lived alone for 12 years but his family has carried out a leaflet campaign appealing for help.
In a statement the family said: 'Not many people are aware that Antoine had a family who cared about him. He was a brother, uncle and also a father to four grown-up children. We have been deeply affected by his death and we would ask anybody who knows anything about what happened to help.'
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Chewter has appealed for anyone with information on the murder to come forward.
He said: 'We are continuing to appeal for any new information in relation to the murder of Antoine Denis and would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw him in the Chatham area before January 9.
'We believe that someone may still hold vital information and would like them to come forward no matter how small they think the details are.'
Speaking today, coroner Sykes criticised police for failing to examine Antoine's body 'thoroughly'.
He said: 'It appeared the police officers who attended found him on the floor and thought it was not suspicious.
'But they clearly didn't examine the body thoroughly. It was only when undertakers who began to move him noticed there was blood and then found the knife.