Overview
- Edward Cornes’ mother and the family’s solicitor, Neil Hudgell, are calling for a different police force to reopen the case and for a fresh inquest.
- A 2023 serious case review recorded 27 failings in the original inquiry, and the family says the Met has not released the full findings to them.
- An October 2025 inquest concluded Cornes died due to alcohol and drugs; the Met says third‑party involvement was ruled out and has apologised for shortcomings in handling.
- The family alleges key material vanished during the active investigation, including CCTV, a blood sample, bed sheets and other items taken from the scene.
- Relatives cite homophobic assumptions and comments by officers, though the Professional Standards Unit found no case to answer on language, and two men arrested in 2021 were released without charge.