Police: Lost bus pass 'unrelated' to man's drowning death

Monday June 1, 2010

POLICE say their investigations have shown no suspicious links between the unexplained drowning of a man and the use of his lost travelcard after his death.

St Pancras Coroner Andrew Reid said at an inquest last week that the use of Lawrence Meader's Freedom Pass after his death could have been an issue for more investigation.

But a Camden police spokeswoman said officers would have been able to clear up the mystery if they had been asked to attend the hearing.

She said: “Mr Meader was not in possession of his card in the weeks before his death. Enquiries with TFL made by Islington police revealed the subject's Freedom Pass usage from 20/11/2009, two weeks before the subject went missing. Before and after his death, the Freedom Pass was used daily between Bond Street and Archway at around the same times - 06:00 and 18:00. The loss of the Freedom Pass was entirely unrelated to his death and could not have shed any light on how he sadly came to drown. Camden police were not required to attend Coroner’s Court and thus cannot comment on whether this information came to light during the hearing.”

The inquest was probing how Mr Meader came to drown in the boat pond near Millfield Lane on December 6. An  unknown man was captured on CCTV at Archway tube station using his pass until the end of December but co;d not be identified.

The fraudulent use was discovered by Islington police as part of a separate missing person's investigation to find Mr Meader, of Annesley Walk, Highgate Newtown, whose body was not identified until his brother reported him missing ten days later on December 16.

Mr Meader's brother Philip expressed concern at the inquest that the use of the pass could indicate “foul-play.”

Dr Reid offered to adjourn last Thursday's inquest until police had provided more information but Mr Meader's brother said he wanted “closure” and asked him to return an open verdict.

Speaking to the coroner, he added: “It's been a bit if a long haul. I don't think we'll ever know one way or the other because the evidence doesn't really amount to much. I have been rather confused about the pass not being tracked more quickly as it could be evidence of foul play.”

The inquest heard police investigating the mysterious death had ruled out suspicious circumstances as Mr Meader had no marks of violence on his body and still had his wallet containing around £12 in cash.

Mr Meader, a skilled craftsman, had made attache cases for top designers including Chanel until mental health issues forced him to stop working. He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was known to mental health services.

Mr Meader's care coordinator Alan Holdaway, who spoke to him two days before his death, said his mood had been a bit low prior to his death but didn't believe he was at risk of suicide.“Laurence said he was a bit under the weather after having a flu jab but there was nothing that concerned me at that point,” he told the court. “He was quite upbeat in his conversation.”

Dr Reid said he could confidently exclude suicide and he said there was no evidence that the death was an accident. Recording an open verdict, he added: “There is equally no evidence of third party involvement except the fact that somebody used his pass after his death. That doesn't prove they were involved in his death. That ought to be something for further investigation.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Meader paid tribute to his brother, who he described as “a bit of a character.”
“Laurence was a very experienced craftsman and a fine leather worker,” he said.