Ed Cornes’s family call for death investigation to be reopened, alleging homophobia in Met Police
“They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs – his lifestyle and sexuality,” said Cornes’s mother, Miriam Blythe
By Aaron Sugg
Ed Cornes’s family are calling for the case surrounding their son’s death to be reopened, following allegations that the Metropolitan Police investigation was tainted by homophobia.
The 19-year-old gay student was found dead in the basement of a London hotel in October 2021, just two days after leaving home to begin university.
The Cornes family argue that, due to alleged discriminatory attitudes within the police team, the circumstances surrounding his death were never properly examined.
“He was dead on the Wednesday morning” – Ed Cornes’s mother, Miriam Blythe, on his death
Ed’s mother, Miriam Blythe, has told ITV that she still has unanswered questions four years on and has no confidence in the Metropolitan Police following its handling of the case.
Police initially treated the death as a potential murder but downgraded it to an unexplained death just nine days later.
Found dead only two days after starting university, Blythe said: “He got there on the Monday, and he was dead on the Wednesday morning.”
“I just remember letting out this scream” – Blythe recalling the Metropolitan Police announcing Ed’s death
“There was a knock on the door. Two detectives from the police were standing there. They said they’d found my son dead in a hotel in the centre of town.”
“I just remember letting out this scream,” she recalled. “It was a crushing weight – knowing he was really gone.”
Blythe has alleged multiple failures by the Metropolitan Police, including officers focusing on Ed’s sexuality and lifestyle rather than evidence, failing to interview key witnesses, losing crucial evidence: including CCTV footage and forensic samples.
“They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs” – Blythe alleges the police investigation was driven by homophobia
The police force was also accused of failing to properly assess whether Ed was able to consent to taking drugs due to his level of intoxication.
According to reports, Ed had high levels of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) in his system, a drug commonly used during chemsex, but also known as a date-rape drug. Two men he met that night were arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.
The family and Ed’s friend say police assumed the death was a self-administered overdose. “They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs – his lifestyle and sexuality,” said the mother.
“We apologise to Edward’s family and friends for any further distress this caused” – commander Stephen Clayman
Ed’s family and friends are calling for the case to be reopened by a different police force and for a fresh inquest. Four years on, Miriam says she remains deeply affected.
When contacted for comment, commander Stephen Clayman told Attitude: “It’s difficult to hear how the handling of our investigation into Edward’s death has added to the family’s pain.
“The extensive investigation, which was subsequently reviewed, ruled out third-party involvement in Edward’s death and this conclusion was later reinforced at the inquest.
“But we accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect. While this did not affect the outcome of the investigation, we apologise to Edward’s family and friends for any further distress this caused.”
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