Parents’ relief as date set for murdered teenager’s inquest
THE parents of a murdered teenager say they are “relieved” a full inquest will now be heard more than four years after his death.
Conner Marshall, 18, from Barry, was beaten to death in a brutal attack at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl in March 2015.
His killer David Braddon, 26, was later sentenced following the horrific attack but an inquest into Mr Marshall’s death was suspended while his court case took place.
His parents battled to win a full inquest into his death and last October it was announced a full hearing would take place.
On Tuesday a preinquest review at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court heard that a full inquest will take place on January 10 next year.
Speaking after the hearing, his mum Nadine said: “I’m just relieved that we are actually moving forward now. It’s good to see that we have actually got a date now.”
Although Braddon confessed to the murder and was put behind bars for life at Cardiff Crown Court, Mr Marshall’s parents still wanted answers.
Speaking previously, they said there were many things they still don’t know about their son’s death and they want to find out what happened when Braddon was meant to be on probation.
They appealed to the coroner to carry out a full inquest so they can get closer to finding out exactly how he died.
Yesterday assistant coroner Nadim Bashir passed on his condolences to Mr Marshall’s parents and added: “I’m so sorry it has taken so long to get to where we are.”
The pre-inquest review also heard there was confusion over which company was dealing with the probation of Braddon at the time of the incident.
Braddon was on community probation for a string of offences when he killed Mr Marshall, whose parents have previously said there is evidence that opportunities to prevent their son’s death were missed.
Legal submissions at the pre-inquest review heard the National Probation Service (NPS) had subcontracted some services at the time.
The lawyer for the NPS, Mona Bayouni, said at the time of the incident that there was an agreement in place with Wales CRC, who had responsibility for low and medium-risk offenders. She added that Braddon would have come under those categories.
But Emma Zeb, the legal representative for Arriva, who insured Wales CRC in 2015, said the parent company Working Links may have been involved. Both Working Link and Wales CRC have both since gone into administration.
Mr Marshall was enjoying a weekend away with friends at the caravan park in Porthcawl when he was murdered following an unprovoked attack.
Fuelled by drink and drugs, Braddon mistook the popular teenager for his estranged partner’s former boyfriend. Braddon, 26, from Caerphilly, was jailed for life later in 2015.
A further pre-inquest review will be held on October 10.