World · Europe · 57 mins ago
Coroner rules Birmingham teenager Mark Billington was unlawfully killed
A coroner has ruled that Mark Billington was unlawfully killed after a new inquest in Birmingham.
Mark was 15 when he disappeared from his home in Yardley in 1984, and his body was found nine weeks later in a copse near Meriden.
Police initially treated his death as suicide, and an open verdict was recorded at an inquest in 1998.
The new inquest heard that Mark was found hanging from a tree with an intricate three-knot rope system, which a pathologist said he was unlikely to have tied himself.
Police later reopened the case as a murder investigation, but the rope and some of Mark’s clothes had been discarded, limiting the possibility of DNA testing.
Three men were arrested, but none were charged.
His sister is asking West Midlands Police for an apology over the original investigation and the loss of evidence.
A coroner ruled that Birmingham teenager Mark Billington was unlawfully killed, more than 42 years after his death.
Billington, 15, disappeared from his home in Yardley in September 1984 and was found hanging from a tree nine weeks later.
Police initially treated his death as suicide, and an open verdict was recorded at an inquest in 1998.
West Midlands Police reopened the case as a murder investigation in 2002, but the rope and some of Billington’s clothing had been discarded.
His family, who had long believed he was killed, welcomed the new verdict and said they would seek an apology from police.
- Who
- Mark Billington, a 15-year-old from Birmingham.
- What
- A coroner ruled that he was unlawfully killed.
- When
- The ruling came at a new inquest held this week, more than 42 years after his death.
- Where
- Billington disappeared from Yardley, Birmingham; his body was found near Meriden, close to Solihull.
- Why
- The coroner heard that he was found hanging with an unusual three-knot rope system, which a pathologist said he was unlikely to have tied himself.
Billington's family
Police who initially treated the death as suicide
Initial conclusion
Billington's family
The family always believed Mark had been killed.
Police who initially treated the death as suicide
Detectives quickly decided he had taken his own life.
Investigation
Billington's family
The family said police failed to investigate properly and discarded crucial evidence.
Police who initially treated the death as suicide
Police later reopened the case as a murder investigation in 2002.
Mark Billington disappeared from his home in Yardley after telling his family he was going out on his bike to fly his kite.
His body was found hanging from a tree in a copse near Meriden.
An open verdict was recorded at his inquest after police had treated his death as suicide.
West Midlands Police reopened the case as a murder investigation.
The High Court granted permission for a new inquest.
A coroner ruled that Billington had been unlawfully killed.
- Age
- 15
- Disappearance
- September 1984
- Body found
- Nine weeks later, near Meriden
- Inquest verdict in 1998
- Open verdict
- Police case reopened
- 2002
- Rope system
- Three knots
What people are saying
They got rid of his clothes and the rope and effectively closed the case without a proper investigation.
I know the police are different now but it is still the same force and the failings back then took away any possibility of Mark's killer ever being caught.
He had so many good and joyful days in his short life. He is terribly missed, the pain is as real today as it was the day he was taken from us.
tied unusually