MI6 Worker's Body 'Padlocked Shut' In Bag

Thu, 02 September 2010 Courtesy of: Ananova

An MI6 codebreaker whose decomposed body was found in a holdall in his bath had been padlocked into the bag, an inquest has heard.

Gareth Williams, 30, was found dead in his flat in Pimlico - half a mile from the MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall - nine days ago.

Despite two post-mortem examinations, the cause of his death is yet to be established and investigations are continuing.

“ the "lifeless body" appeared to be in an "advanced state of decay"”

Police have described it as "suspicious and unexplained" but have refused to categorise it as a murder, despite the bizarre circumstances.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman told a brief hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court in central London Mr Williams was found in a holdall which was "padlocked shut".

He said the "lifeless body" appeared to be in an "advanced state of decay", adding that he would be kept informed of the progress of the police investigation.

"As always, the family will be anxious to have the body released following post-mortem," he said.

"We have talked about this and I am not inclined to allow this to occur at the present time."

He adjourned the inquest to Wednesday, September 8.

No members of Mr Williams' family were in court.

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his corpse was discovered.

Police have not said whether the sighting was made on CCTV or came from another source.

The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police's Homicide Command with the security-vetted Counter-Terror Command (SO15) playing a lesser role in proceedings.

Officers are still trying to determine whether he was asphyxiated or poisoned or if drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

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

Mr Williams was just days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service - also known as MI6 - when he died.