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| Police urged to reconstruct death fall at Pete Doherty party Police urged to reconstruct death fall at Pete Doherty party | |
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| A forensic science expert whose investigation into the death of Mark Blanco indicated that foul play may have been involved has called for the Metropolitan police to cooperate on a new joint investigation that would recreate the events of the night. | A forensic science expert whose investigation into the death of Mark Blanco indicated that foul play may have been involved has called for the Metropolitan police to cooperate on a new joint investigation that would recreate the events of the night. |
| Blanco, an aspiring actor, died 10 years ago next month after falling from the balcony of a flat in East London where the rock star Pete Doherty was at a party with friends. Police initially suggested that the death was a suicide, but a coroner rejected this explanation. Blanco’s mother, Sheila, believes her son was unlawfully killed. | Blanco, an aspiring actor, died 10 years ago next month after falling from the balcony of a flat in East London where the rock star Pete Doherty was at a party with friends. Police initially suggested that the death was a suicide, but a coroner rejected this explanation. Blanco’s mother, Sheila, believes her son was unlawfully killed. |
| John Kennedy, a forensic video analyst who worked on the Jamie Bulger case, said CCTV footage suggested that Blanco did not go over the balcony railings of his own accord. “If he had vaulted over the railings, his body would have been in an entirely different position,” Kennedy said. “His body was limp, there’s no defensive action as he nears the ground.” | John Kennedy, a forensic video analyst who worked on the Jamie Bulger case, said CCTV footage suggested that Blanco did not go over the balcony railings of his own accord. “If he had vaulted over the railings, his body would have been in an entirely different position,” Kennedy said. “His body was limp, there’s no defensive action as he nears the ground.” |
| Kennedy believes that recreating the fall in a simulation exercise – and comparing it with the original CCTV footage – would allow all parties to establish if Blanco had been dropped off or pushed off the balcony. | Kennedy believes that recreating the fall in a simulation exercise – and comparing it with the original CCTV footage – would allow all parties to establish if Blanco had been dropped off or pushed off the balcony. |
| “We would have to have the streets sealed off. The best way to do this is a joint exercise with the Met police. Whether it helps the Blanco family’s campaign or the police version of events, so be it. We would replicate exactly what happened on the night and contrast and compare and come up with a plausible explanation that would be accepted by all parties.” | “We would have to have the streets sealed off. The best way to do this is a joint exercise with the Met police. Whether it helps the Blanco family’s campaign or the police version of events, so be it. We would replicate exactly what happened on the night and contrast and compare and come up with a plausible explanation that would be accepted by all parties.” |
| The Blanco family’s lawyer, Michael Wolkind, welcomed the proposal. | The Blanco family’s lawyer, Michael Wolkind, welcomed the proposal. |
| “We have an expert ready to demonstrate that Mark was pushed or thrown off the balcony. If a reconstruction at the scene now takes place, then maybe even a police force apparently allergic to crime will start a full fresh investigation and help a grieving family.” | “We have an expert ready to demonstrate that Mark was pushed or thrown off the balcony. If a reconstruction at the scene now takes place, then maybe even a police force apparently allergic to crime will start a full fresh investigation and help a grieving family.” |
| On the night of the fall, Blanco, 30, an accomplished magician and antiquarian bookseller, had attended a party at the East London flat of Paul Roundhill, a friend of Doherty. Blanco was said to have been excited about a play he was putting on, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, in which the protagonist is thrown to his death. | On the night of the fall, Blanco, 30, an accomplished magician and antiquarian bookseller, had attended a party at the East London flat of Paul Roundhill, a friend of Doherty. Blanco was said to have been excited about a play he was putting on, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, in which the protagonist is thrown to his death. |
| After Blanco apparently badgered Doherty to come and see the play, Roundhill and the singer’s minder, Johnny Jeannevol, evicted him from the party. Roundhill has admitted to setting fire to Blanco’s hat and punching him in the process. | After Blanco apparently badgered Doherty to come and see the play, Roundhill and the singer’s minder, Johnny Jeannevol, evicted him from the party. Roundhill has admitted to setting fire to Blanco’s hat and punching him in the process. |
| Soon afterwards Blanco returned to the block of flats. A witness said he heard swearing and shouting in the stairwell in the seconds before Blanco fell. Shortly afterwards, CCTV footage shows Doherty, a female friend and Jeannevol running away. All deny any involvement in Blanco’s death. A confession by Jeannevol that he killed Blanco was retracted. | Soon afterwards Blanco returned to the block of flats. A witness said he heard swearing and shouting in the stairwell in the seconds before Blanco fell. Shortly afterwards, CCTV footage shows Doherty, a female friend and Jeannevol running away. All deny any involvement in Blanco’s death. A confession by Jeannevol that he killed Blanco was retracted. |
| Sheila Blanco is critical of the police investigation into her son’s death. Having insisted that he fell from a first-floor balcony, an expert report commissioned by the Met claims it was the second floor – outside Roundhill’s flat. “Why wasn’t this discovered before?” she asked. “What have they been doing for the last eight years?” | Sheila Blanco is critical of the police investigation into her son’s death. Having insisted that he fell from a first-floor balcony, an expert report commissioned by the Met claims it was the second floor – outside Roundhill’s flat. “Why wasn’t this discovered before?” she asked. “What have they been doing for the last eight years?” |
| The second-floor balcony has limited clearance between the railing and the ceiling of the stairwell from which it looks out. “Mark wouldn’t have been able to climb out there because of his height, he was six foot four,” Sheila Blanco said. | The second-floor balcony has limited clearance between the railing and the ceiling of the stairwell from which it looks out. “Mark wouldn’t have been able to climb out there because of his height, he was six foot four,” Sheila Blanco said. |
| Analysis of CCTV images by Kennedy for BBC Newsnight indicated that Blanco’s fall was consistent with someone being carried and dropped over the balcony edge. | Analysis of CCTV images by Kennedy for BBC Newsnight indicated that Blanco’s fall was consistent with someone being carried and dropped over the balcony edge. |
| But the Met report suggests there is no evidence from the CCTV footage that anyone else was present when Blanco fell. | But the Met report suggests there is no evidence from the CCTV footage that anyone else was present when Blanco fell. |
| A Met spokesman said: “In January 2016, the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] provided a further report to the Blanco family’s legal representative. The report addressed issues highlighted by the Blanco family in October 2013 with regard to CCTV footage relevant to the circumstances surrounding Mr Blanco’s death. To date the MPS has received no response from Mr Blanco’s family in relation to the MPS report finding.” The spokesman added: “We are not prepared to give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.” | A Met spokesman said: “In January 2016, the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] provided a further report to the Blanco family’s legal representative. The report addressed issues highlighted by the Blanco family in October 2013 with regard to CCTV footage relevant to the circumstances surrounding Mr Blanco’s death. To date the MPS has received no response from Mr Blanco’s family in relation to the MPS report finding.” The spokesman added: “We are not prepared to give a running commentary on an ongoing investigation.” |
| Sheila Blanco hopes that the 10th anniversary of her son’s death – to be commemorated with a concert at Westminster cathedral hall later this month – will bring forward fresh information. | Sheila Blanco hopes that the 10th anniversary of her son’s death – to be commemorated with a concert at Westminster cathedral hall later this month – will bring forward fresh information. |
| A decade after her son’s death, his grave still has no headstone. “I won’t have it put up until I get some answers,” she said. “When he was dying I vowed to him I would find out what happened, and I intend to do that.” | A decade after her son’s death, his grave still has no headstone. “I won’t have it put up until I get some answers,” she said. “When he was dying I vowed to him I would find out what happened, and I intend to do that.” |