jrobertson
12-01-08, 09:01 PM
Neighbour ignored body in stairwell
icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk - Berkshire.co.uk - Jan 10 2008
Neighbour ignored body in stairwell (http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_headline=neighbour-ignored-body-in-stairwell&method=full&objectid=20334657&siteid=50102-name_page.html)Jan 10 2008
A PENSIONER who stepped over his neighbour's dead body on his way to the shops has made a public apology to the man's family.
Leonard Smith spotted 81-year-old Lionel Petty sprawled at the bottom of a flight of stairs on his way out but assumed he was sleeping, an inquest heard.
But it was not until he returned from the shops and saw Mr Petty was still lying there that he raised the alarm.
The Reading court head Mr Petty often passed out in the stairwell after drinking and Mr Smith, also 81, admitted he did not think twice when he passed the body at 11am on August 26, 2006.
He said: "People have said that I should have done something sooner, but I just thought that everything was all right
"I feel very guilty and I should have done something at the time, but I thought he was asleep. I can only apologise to his family. Had I known I would have done something sooner."
Paramedics certified Mr Petty dead at the scene in Reading's Bexley Court and tests revealed his blood-alcohol level was 256 milligrams - more than three times the drink-drive limit.
A post mortem examination revealed he fractured his skull and suffered brain damage when he slipped down the stairs.
Recording an accident verdict, Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford said: "I don't believe anything could have been done to help Mr Petty had Mr Smith decided to do something sooner. As there were no witnesses we can only assume that Mr Petty slipped, fell, tumbled or lost his balance that led to the catastrophic injuries that resulted in his death."
Mr Petty's son Mark left the court afterwards without commenting.
icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk - Berkshire.co.uk - Jan 10 2008
Neighbour ignored body in stairwell (http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_headline=neighbour-ignored-body-in-stairwell&method=full&objectid=20334657&siteid=50102-name_page.html)Jan 10 2008
A PENSIONER who stepped over his neighbour's dead body on his way to the shops has made a public apology to the man's family.
Leonard Smith spotted 81-year-old Lionel Petty sprawled at the bottom of a flight of stairs on his way out but assumed he was sleeping, an inquest heard.
But it was not until he returned from the shops and saw Mr Petty was still lying there that he raised the alarm.
The Reading court head Mr Petty often passed out in the stairwell after drinking and Mr Smith, also 81, admitted he did not think twice when he passed the body at 11am on August 26, 2006.
He said: "People have said that I should have done something sooner, but I just thought that everything was all right
"I feel very guilty and I should have done something at the time, but I thought he was asleep. I can only apologise to his family. Had I known I would have done something sooner."
Paramedics certified Mr Petty dead at the scene in Reading's Bexley Court and tests revealed his blood-alcohol level was 256 milligrams - more than three times the drink-drive limit.
A post mortem examination revealed he fractured his skull and suffered brain damage when he slipped down the stairs.
Recording an accident verdict, Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford said: "I don't believe anything could have been done to help Mr Petty had Mr Smith decided to do something sooner. As there were no witnesses we can only assume that Mr Petty slipped, fell, tumbled or lost his balance that led to the catastrophic injuries that resulted in his death."
Mr Petty's son Mark left the court afterwards without commenting.