Police say man's death no longer treated as murder

The death of a man found in a street with a head injury is no longer being treated as murder, police have confirmed.

Jeffrey Burton, 50, and originally from Cambridgeshire, died in hospital four days after he was discovered in London Road, Kettering on 27 August.

Preliminary findings from a post-mortem examination revealed he died from a head injury with police subsequently arresting nine people on suspicion of murder.

But Northamptonshire Police has now said further medical test results "concluded his death was not linked to an assault" and those arrested faced "no further action" and had all been released from police bail.

Det Ch Insp Torie Harrison said: "This has been a complex investigation and our thoughts remain with Mr Burton's family at what has been a very difficult time for them.

"It is only right that an incident such as this is treated with the utmost seriousness, to make sure we have done all we can to understand what has happened, and to get the answers those left behind need and want.

"In Mr Burton's case I can confirm the evidence we have examined did not support his death as a homicide, which has now been further confirmed by all the forensic post-mortem and medical results."

She added the force's findings and decision had been explained to the man's family and a file was now being prepared for the coroner.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman told the BBC its officers reviewed hours of CCTV footage, but did not have any clear footage of Burton being injured by a particular act or person.

"Although there were incidents captured on CCTV which led to the arrests of nine people, medical evidence concluded that he died from natural causes," she said.

"The CCTV was insufficient to identify offences.

"Due to the consideration that Mr Burton may have sustained a head injury from a third party, various people were identified as having engaged in incidents with Mr Burton."

The spokeswoman said it gave officers sufficient suspicion to arrest the nine people in order to carry out a "diligent" investigation.

"However, medical evidence concluded that there were no corresponding injuries to support any third party being responsible for his death and that he died of natural causes," she added.

In the days after Burton's death, his family paid tribute to him and said: "Jeffrey was a painter and decorator by trade, but he would turn his hand to anything if asked to help.

"He was quite a cheeky chap really, but no matter where his life led him, he was always so close to his mum."

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