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Laptop missing from flat where body was found
INVESTIGATORS are baffled by the disappearance of a laptop and iPod from the locked Highbury home where the body of an office worker was found.
Media agency administrator John Busby, 24, died on February 6, after an evening out with friends.
On Tuesday, a coroner recorded an open verdict after admitting the only apparent cause of death – a minor and reversible liver complaint – did not fully explain why he died. He said Mr Busby may have been the victim of a robbery.
A post-mortem revealed Mr Busby had a fatty and enlarged liver and was suffering from hepatic steatosis, which has many causes including overconsumption of alcohol and diabetes.
Friends and family said that, although Mr Busby liked a drink, his consumption was no more than the average 24-year-old. He had stopped taking drugs more than two years before his death.
St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid said he was open to the possibility someone may have visited Mr Busby at his Highbury estate flat after his night out but before his death.
“There is no evidence linking the [missing] items with his death but it does raise the possibility that Mr Busby did have another visitor between leaving the club and Saturday morning [when he was discovered],” said Dr Reid. “But there is no evidence who that might have been and no evidence they were responsible for his death.”
On the night he died Mr Busby had drinks at his flat before heading to Angel and then to a late bar in King’s Cross.
Friends said Mr Busby, who went by the name Josh in gay circles, was particularly drunk and described him as “flirtatious” with other drinkers at Central Station, a gay club in Wharfdale Road, King’s Cross.
Mr Busby’s flatmate Karen Dawson said when she discovered him he was in bed and appeared to be in a sleeping position, but had traces of vomit on his mouth and the curtains were open.
“That was unusual – he always closed the curtains,” she said. Her jewellery box had been knocked to the ground and her laptop and iPod were also missing.
Detective Sergeant Lily Benbow, of Islington CID, said officers found three glasses on a table – even though Mr Busby had only one friend over before going out – and couldn’t explain the missing items.
Police were not looking for anyone in connection with his death, she said. “The flat was locked. There were no suspicious circumstances,” she added.
The missing items were being treated as “unexplained” but detectives were not linking them to the death. The case had been closed. |
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