Metropolitan Police apologises over handling of Ed Cornes’s death as family demand case is reopened (EXCLUSIVE)
"We accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect," said commander Stephen Clayman
By Callum Wells
The Metropolitan Police has apologised for its handling of the investigation into the death of 19-year-old student Ed Cornes, as his family renew calls for the case to be reopened.
Ed, a gay student, was found dead in the basement of a London hotel in October 2021, just two days after leaving home to begin university. Four years on, his family say they still have unanswered questions and no confidence in the force that investigated his death.
In a statement to Attitude, commander Stephen Clayman acknowledged that aspects of the investigation “did not meet the high standards we expect” and apologised for the additional distress caused to Ed’s family and friends.
“We accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect” – Metropolitan Police commander Stephen Clayman
He said: “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.”
The apology comes as Ed’s family continues to argue that homophobia within the police meant the circumstances of his death were never properly examined. Police initially treated the case as a potential murder, before downgrading it to an unexplained death just nine days later.
Ed’s mother, Miriam Blythe, has told ITV that she believes the investigation was shaped by assumptions about her son’s sexuality and lifestyle, rather than evidence. “They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs – his lifestyle and sexuality,” she said.
“He was dead on the Wednesday morning” – Ed Cornes’s mother, Miriam Blythe, on his death
According to reports, Ed had high levels of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) in his system, a substance associated with chemsex but also widely recognised as a date-rape drug. Two men he met on the night of his death were arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge. The family allege police failed to properly assess whether Ed was able to consent to taking drugs due to his level of intoxication.
Blythe has also raised concerns about what she describes as multiple investigative failures, including the loss of key evidence such as CCTV footage and forensic samples, and the failure to interview crucial witnesses.
“He got there on the Monday, and he was dead on the Wednesday morning,” Blythe said. “There was a knock on the door. Two detectives 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.”
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