Overview
- Dr Marjorie Turner said the PSNI did not supply a water sample from the culvert for diatom comparison, calling such testing supportive but not outcome‑changing for her conclusion of drowning.
- Court documents recorded police noting a coroner’s office view that a sample was not needed, which Dr Turner rejected as her direction, while PSNI counsel said officers did not treat the request as urgent.
- Three pathologists agreed Noah was alive on entering the water, likely died close to his disappearance, and had broad forehead bruising from significant blunt impact sustained while alive.
- Toxicology was negative, yet experts cautioned some newer synthetic drugs may evade standard screens, and Dr Nathaniel Cary said the pre‑death behavior described could align with an acute psychotic episode to be considered alongside further expert evidence.
- PSNI witnesses defended their handling by highlighting an unusually early but, they said, justified referral to CID, disputing suggestions of “missing person fatigue” while acknowledging questions over early CCTV work and retrospective phone pings.