Man found dead ‘had been in fight hours earlier’
INQUEST OPENS AFTER BODY RECOVERED NEAR THAMES BRIDGE
A YOUNG man whose body was found in the Thames with his head split open had been in a fight with a group of men outside a nightclub hours earlier.
An inquest was opened on Thursday November 25 into the death of Mohamed Mussa, who was found near Hammersmith Bridge with “blunt force injuries” to the back of his head.
The 27-year-old Dutch national had last been seen walking towards Putney Bridge in the early hours of Sunday October 17.
Mr Mussa, who lived in Wandsworth, had spent his evening at La Fez nightclub and was reported missing the following day by his partner.
The hearing at West London Coroner’s Court also heard that unusual activity had been noticed on Mr Mussa’s bank account.
His body was subsequently found near Hammersmith Bridge at 8am on Tuesday October 19.
Senior Coroner Chinyere Inyama said: “Rowers on the river noticed the body in the bushes and they called the emergency services.
“There was lots of blood coming from the back of his head going into the river.”
An RNLI crewboat transported the body to Chiswick Pier where Mr Mussa was declared dead.
A post-mortem by Dr Robert Chapman had failed to find a conclusive cause of death and investigations are ongoing.
A preliminary forensic examination had revealed “bruising to the larynx” as well as scratches to the upper body. Mr Mussa had also suffered “blunt force injuries” to his head, whilst his lungs had been swollen by water.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Shirley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Our last sighting of Mohamed is of him walk
ing past Simmons bar on Putney High Street towards Putney Bridge at 5.29am on Sunday October 17.
“We are confident he did not turn left down Lower Richmond Road or cross over the road towards the church and cinema, but are not clear on his next steps and we are now asking for the public’s help in trying to ascertain exactly what happened.”
The inquest was adjourned until February 4.