Express : DELAY OVER SPY'S CAUSE OF DEATH

DELAY OVER SPY'S CAUSE OF DEATH

August 27, 2010

Investigators are still days away from finding out the exact cause of death of British code-breaker Gareth Williams, police said.

The complicated nature of the tests currently being carried out mean it could be well into next week before police are able to piece together how the maths genius died.

A post mortem examination undertaken earlier this week proved inconclusive and officers are still days away from determining if he was asphyxiated, poisoned or if drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

He was last seen alive eight days before his corpse was found stuffed in a bag at his flat.

A confirmed sighting of Mr Williams, 30, was made on August 15 in London, officers said.

But police would not say whether the sighting was made on CCTV or came from another source.

The investigation is being led by the Met's Homicide Command with the security-vetted Counter Terror Command (SO15) also playing a lesser role in proceedings.

Scotland Yard played down reports that thousands of pounds had passed through Mr Williams' bank account shortly before his death as "pure speculation".

It was reported that three sums of £2,000 were paid into his account on consecutive days and then withdrawn on consecutive days.

Meanwhile, Mr Williams' family hit out at rumours that suggested the dead man was involved in risky sexual practices. In a statement they said speculation linking the secret service employee to a male escort and bondage equipment had been "very distressing".