An investigation has failed to answer why a man drowned in the River Thames two days before he was due to give evidence in court.

The body of Donald Smith, 58, of Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was found floating face down in the river, half a mile south of Sandford Lock on April 17, Oxford Coroner's Court was told yesterday.

He had been the victim of an assault in September last year which left him with a broken jaw and cheekbone. He died two days before he was due to give evidence in the case at Oxford Crown Court.

James Moore, 24, of Albert Street, Jericho, was jailed in September for three and a half years for the attack on Mr Smith.

Coroner Dorothy Flood said: "The medical cause of death is given by the pathologist as drowning and there is no physical evidence as to how he came to be in the water. "The police were not able to establish that anyone else was involved."

She recorded an open verdict and said there was not sufficient evidence to decide whether Mr Smith, who could not swim, meant to take his own life or if he slipped into the water by accident.

Giving evidence at the inquest, his sister, Shirley Ann Williams, who lived with her mother and brother, said: "He didn't want to go to court because I think that he had been threatened by the family of the Moores. He had been threatened on numerous occasions. I don't believe my brother took his own life."

Afterwards, she said: "I don't believe that my brother committed suicide and I don't know how he came to be in the water. "We are glad that it is over and we want to get on with our lives. I am happy with the verdict today."

During the original crown court case, Mr Smith's mother May Clarke, 80, of Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, had told the court: "After he had the beating he just went downhill. He didn't want to do anything."

Story date: Saturday 20 November

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