LinkDEAD BODY IN FLAT FOR EIGHT YEARS
10:40 - 08 February 2008
The body of a man who is believed to have been dead for nearly a decade has been found in a flat - where a council tenant had carried on living.
The corpse, believed to be the tenant's former lodger, was found by council workers a few days ago after neighbours in the warden-controlled flats reported a "vile stench".
The dead man, who has not yet been identified, is believed to have been in his 70s.
The tenant of the flat was arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed pending further inquiries, although the Evening Post has learned police are no longer treating the death as suspicious.
It is not expected the tenant will face any charges in connection with the death, which is now expected to be handed over to the coroner.
The tenant, who is also in his 70s, is now back living in another flat in the same building - Mawdeley House, Catherine Mead Street, Bedminster - just yards from where he had been living with the corpse.
Police have yet to formally confirm the identity of the dead man, although his family have been informed.
The body was found on Wednesday of last week. It is believed to have been hidden in the lounge under an upturned sofa.
Council officials knocked on the door after neighbours reported the smell.
It is believed the body could have been there for at least eight years, with some residents suggesting the corpse may have laid there for a decade or longer.
It remained unclear last night why the tenant had not alerted the authorities to his lodger's death.
The city council refused to speculate on how officials had remained unaware of the body before now.
Other residents in Mawdeley House spoke of their shock when they discovered the dead man had remained in the flat for so long.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said the man had lived there for a while with the tenant before vanishing. She believed he was about the same age as the tenant, was thin and had grey hair.
Residents also said they had made a number of complaints about terrible smells from the first floor flat for years but nothing was done about it. They were told there could be problems with drains or accumulated rubbish.
One man, who also did not want to be identified, said he moved into his flat about eight years ago after previous tenants moved out because of the "vile stench" but the bad smells continued.
He said: "I never dreamed there would be a dead body in there. I had the shock of my life when I found out what had happened."
Tenants said they understood the corpse was found underneath a tipped-over settee after a team of cleaners had eventually been sent into the flat.
They said the cleaners alerted the police and the block of flats was soon full of officers and forensic experts in white boiler suits and masks.
Residents said the investigators were at the scene for several days and removed a number of items in plastic bags.
The man who had shared the flat with the corpse is now living in a different flat in the same block.
He did not answer when the Evening Post rang his doorbell.
Meanwhile the flat where the body was found remains locked but according to residents has been completely stripped and cleaned.
The police have so far been unable to determine exactly how long the corpse had been lying in the warden-controlled flats.
Police spokesman Ian Drury said: "A man was living in the flat at the time, although at this stage that individual is not believed to be connected with the death.
"Our inquiries continue but so far no evidence of foul play has been found."
City council officials have now launched an internal inquiry to establish how the corpse had gone unnoticed for so long.
A council spokesman said: "We are shocked and concerned by this discovery and are carrying out an urgent internal review of the circumstances of the tenant.
"A police investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further while this is taking place."
Do you know who the dead man is? Call our newsdesk 0117 934 3335.
Wonderful place is Bristol, eh Dartzap?
Alas my mate is intent on visiting in March 