by Jason Lever
Posted on Sun, 01 Dec 2013 18:06:26 GMT
The investigation into Solomon’s death
The cause of death was heart disease or coronary thrombosis. As reported by the Jewish Chronicle (21.08.59) Dr Alan Grant, pathologist, told the inquest that although it was:
‘a natural death... physical hurt, emotional disturbance or mental anguish would be the very worst possible thing having regard to the state of Mr Lever’s heart at the time. It would, he added, be dangerous and liable to cause death.’
Summing up, the Walthamstow coroner, Dr H.H. Kensole, referred to the
Homicide Act (1957), and set out that:
‘The Law two years ago changed what might well have been a murder into a possible manslaughter. For it is manslaughter if, without any intention of killing, a person nevertheless kills another during the course of unlawful conduct which causes, or even might cause, the infliction of physical harm’.
The jury was directed to decide whether the person or persons stealing the money had used actual physical harm, or the threat of it, and had in so doing precipitated the heart attack which killed Solomon Lever.
After a short retirement, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter by person or persons unknown.
No-one was ever charged.
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