|
|
 |
| |
Chris Lowe |
Inquest fails to establish how ‘The Bear’ died in car crash
Pet Shop Boy musician describes last hours of Arsenal fan before tragedy
PET Shop Boy musician Chris Lowe was the key witness as an inquest concluded that no one would ever know exactly how an Arsenal terraces legend came to die in a BMW at the bottom of the Moscow river.
The keyboardist and DJ – an ardent Arsenal fan who penned Do the Right Thing for record striker Ian Wright – told an inquest into the death of Dainton Connell, 46, how he investigated the riverside crash scene after the fatal accident in October last year.
The father-of-three was working as a personal assistant and security guard to the musician in Moscow when he was killed. The car in which he was a passenger flipped over railings into the river after which the city is named.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Connell, known as Denton or The Bear, was the leader of Highbury’s Clock End supporters’ group, The Gooners. Thousands of Arsenal fans paid homage at his funeral last year.
His wife, Amanda, told the inquest she had spoken to him on the day he died and he “was fine, casual, laughing and joking”. She added: “We texted each other and spoke to each other. I said have a nice time.”
As many of Mr Connell’s family and friends listened at a packed St Pancras Coroner’s Court, Mr Lowe described how he had dined with Mr Connell and left him in a restaurant with the words “see you later”.
The next day, he received a call from the British Consulate informing him of the accident. He watched Russian TV footage of the BMW, driven by a Russian businessman, being pulled from the river.
Mr Lowe remained in Moscow to deal with the death, taking pictures of the crash scene to show relatives. He told the inquest the photographs showed tyre marks where the car left the road.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid said he had received very little information from the Russian authorities or the Foreign Office beyond an autopsy report stating that Mr Connell had died of “combined injuries” and a statement that there were no witnesses.
A Home Office pathologist had re-examined the body and confirmed the cause of death was multiple injuries, rather than drowning.
Passing his condolences to the family, Dr Reid concluded: “At the time in Moscow it was dark and it was raining heavily. Photos indicate the road surface was wet. At some time it appears the driver lost control of the vehicle.
“Ultimately, the car ended up in the river. It must have been travelling at some speed to have cleared the railings. There is no evidence of any suspicious circumstances or the involvement of any third party.
“In the absence of any further detail from Moscow I am obliged to return an open verdict.”
After the inquest, Mr Lowe described Mr Connell as “probably my best friend”. He added: “I really miss him.”
Friends of Mr Connell have arranged a benefit concert, featuring Madness and the Pet Shop Boys, to raise money for Mr Connell’s family. It will be held at Heaven nightclub on May 2. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
