Express : BODY OF SPY WAS PADLOCKED IN BAG

BODY OF SPY WAS PADLOCKED IN BAG

September 1, 2010

The body of British code-breaker Gareth Williams was found padlocked shut in a holdall in a bath in his flat, an inquest has been told.

The cause of death has not yet been established.

Mr Williams was found dead by police who broke into the Government-owned flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico, central London, on August 23, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

Mr Williams, 30, had failed to appear at work for several days and had not been seen for eight days when his body was found.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said he was found in a bag which was padlocked shut and the corpse was in an "advanced state of decay", a court spokeswoman said.

A post-mortem examination carried out on August 25 failed to establish a cause of death and investigations are continuing.

The inquest was adjourned to September 8.

Dr Knapman will be kept informed of how the investigation is progressing and consider when to release the body so a funeral can take place, the spokeswoman said.

Officers are still trying to determine if Mr Williams was asphyxiated, poisoned or if drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

A pathologist found Mr Williams was not stabbed or shot and there were no obvious signs of strangulation.