A coroner has asked the Metropolitan Police to explain why they deemed a young homeless man’s death in Waltham Forest “non-suspicious”.
Khaled Aribi, 32, of no fixed abode, was found dead at a property in Hatherley Road, Walthamstow.
But a court has heard that subsequent investigations have failed to confirm his cause of death.
“I would like a report from the officer in charge, setting out details of the evidence gathered for the police investigation and the rationale for deeming non-suspicious,” ordered coroner Nadia Persaud.
An inquest into Khaled's death was opened at East London Coroner's Court in Queen's Road, Walthamstow - a five-minute drive from where his body was discovered - on Thursday, August 15.
Coroner's officer Jean Smyth testified that emergency services were called after his body was discovered on the morning of July 27.
There were “no obvious signs of life”, she said, and he was declared dead at the scene.
No details were provided in the brief inquest opening as to who had discovered the body or how they and Khaled had come to be inside the same property.
Mrs Smyth told Mrs Persaud that despite an autopsy being conducted, “cause of death has not yet been obtained.”
The coroner declared Khaled’s family “interested persons” in the inquest, meaning they will have the right to ask questions and interrogate evidence.
Mrs Persaud asked them for “any details they can provide about his circumstances leading up to his death and, if they have any concerns surrounding his death, details of those concerns.”
She also ordered individual statements from all police officers who attended the scene and copies of any other key witness statements.
Additionally, Mrs Persaud requested a copy of the pathologist’s post-mortem report and the results of toxicology tests.
“At present, the only interested persons are the family,” she said, ordering that they be advised of Khaled’s inquest hearing date: February 27, 2025.
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