Body in river ‘for weeks’
A MAN found dead in a river three months after he was last seen had probably been in the water for a number of weeks before his body was found, an inquest was told.
A MAN was found dead in a river three months after he was last seen.
The body of Royston Payne, of no fixed address, was discovered by a dog walker in the River Cynon on November 23, last year.
The 46 year old was last seen two months previously on August 13 by a shopkeeper in the Aberdare area.
An inquest was held into Mr Payne’s death at Pontypridd Municipal Buildings.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Dean Williams told the hearing a man walking his dog along the Taff Trail discovered a body “hanging over a branch” and phoned the emergency services.
DS Williams said the person was declared dead at the scene and he was conveyed to Prince Charles Hospital for a post mortem examination.
The body was identified as Royston Payne, and an investigation was launched to ascertain his movements in the lead up to his death.
Officers eventually identified Abdul Hameed of Blaengwawr Stores in Aberdare as the last person to see Mr Payne alive.
DS Williams said Mr Payne would frequent the shop to buy alcohol and was last seen by Mr Hameed on August 13.
He explained officers had difficulty tracking Mr Payne’s final movements as he was largely estranged from his immediate family and children.
“We had no statement from a witness nor any other evidence placing him near the river at the time he was last seen,” DS Williams said.
“The only evidence was that he used to enjoy fishing.”
He added: “We had next to nothing back from media appeals.”
Dr Richard Jones, who carried out the postmortem examination, told the inquest that the state the body was found in was consistent with one that had been in water for a number of weeks.
“The degree of changes that had occurred after death caused significant problems in identifying whether there were any injuries prior to death,” he said.
“I cannot say whether there were any skin injuries, but what I can say is that there were no bone injuries.”
Dr Jones explained that toxicology tests revealed the presence of an anti-depressant – but was unable to identify alcohol in the blood at the time of death.
Coroner Andrew Barkley recorded an open conclusion.
He said: “I accept the evidence, of course, from Dr Jones which is that the medical cause of his death has to be recorded as unascertained, and in these circumstances, I cannot distinguish or differentiate between any of the possibilities that have been considered, or indeed any others that have not been.
“For that reason, I am obliged to record an open conclusion.”