The Metropolitan Police have apologised to the family of 19-year-old Ed Cornes after acknowledging serious failures in the handling of the investigation into his death.
The apology came on Monday 29 June, nearly five years after Ed was found dead in a London hotel room. Specialist officers are now reviewing the original investigation to determine whether any further lines of enquiry remain.
Ed, who was gay, had just begun his first term at University College London when he died in October 2021.
He had left his student accommodation and met two older men he did not know. His body was later found in a basement room of a hotel in King’s Cross, around five minutes from his halls of residence.
An inquest heard Ed had dozens of injuries and high levels of GHB in his system. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder but were later released without charge. (ITVX)
Family says apology is “too little too late”
Following an ITV News investigation and years of campaigning by Ed’s family, the Met has now admitted that aspects of the original investigation “were not handled correctly”.
In a statement, the force said: “We apologise for the pain caused to Edward’s family through the handling of our investigation. We acknowledge that aspects of the initial investigation were not handled correctly and did not meet the high standards we expect.”
The Met said it had met with Ed’s family to apologise in person and recognised the distress caused by its actions.
Ed’s mother, Miriam Blythe, described the apology as “too little too late”, saying she had spent years being told by police that there was nothing more to investigate.
“It’s a small victory. I am pleased they are doing a review, and I hope justice will be served in the end,” she told ITV News.
“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.
“Your son dies in horrible circumstances and then the police say it’s all his fault. It’s been devastating.”
Allegations of homophobic comments and lost evidence
An internal police review previously identified 27 failings in the handling of the case.
Miriam has alleged that key evidence was lost, including CCTV and blood samples, and that important witnesses were never interviewed.
She has also accused officers of making homophobic remarks, including one comment that “with man-on-man sex, anything can happen”.
The Met has since acknowledged that an officer made those comments and apologised for the upset caused to the family.
Watchdog investigation continues
Alongside the renewed police review, the Independent Office for Police Conduct is continuing its own investigation into complaints about the Met’s handling of Ed’s death.
The IOPC said the complaints include alleged failures in the original investigation, the handling of subsequent coronial proceedings and inquest, evidence presented by an officer at the inquest, and communication with Ed’s family throughout.
The Met is now appealing for further information from witnesses as specialist officers re-examine the circumstances surrounding Ed’s death.
For Ed’s family, the apology is a long-awaited acknowledgement — but not an end point.
After years of unanswered questions, they are still seeking clarity, accountability and justice for a young man whose death they believe was never properly investigated.
