Met Police apologise to family of dead gay student as investigation reviews Police failings

The Metropolitan Police has apologised to the family of 19-year-old Ed Cornes after an ITV News investigation raised serious concerns about the handling of the case following his death in 2021.

Ed, who was gay and had just started his first term at University College London, was found dead in a hotel near King's Cross in 2021. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder but were later released without charge.

The Metropolitan Police has now confirmed specialist officers are reviewing the original investigation and appealing for new information from witnesses.

Ed's family have long argued that police failings meant the circumstances surrounding his death were never properly investigated. His mother, Miriam Blythe, has accused the force of allowing homophobic assumptions to influence its approach.

Responding to the Met's apology, she told ITV News it was “a small victory" that has come “too little, too late". Going on to say, "I am pleased they are doing a review, and I hope justice will be served in the end, but it's been a horrible, devastating struggle where I always knew I was right, and had multiple police officers telling me I was wrong."

An inquest heard Ed left his student accommodation in the early hours of the morning before meeting a man he did not know, who took him to a nearby hotel where another man was present. He was found dead several hours later.

The hearing found Ed had multiple injuries and high levels of GHB in his system. It also heard the two men delayed calling an ambulance.

Miriam has previously claimed key witnesses were never interviewed and vital evidence, including CCTV footage and blood samples, had been lost. An internal Met review later identified 27 failings in the investigation.

She also alleged officers made homophobic comments, including telling her that "with man-on-man sex, anything can happen". The Met has acknowledged the remark and apologised.

In a statement, the force said: "We apologise for the pain caused to Edward's family through the handling of our investigation. Specialist officers are now reviewing the original investigation into Edward's death to determine if there are any possible further lines of enquiry."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) continues to investigate complaints about the Met's handling of the case, including the original investigation, communication with Ed's family and evidence presented during the inquest.