Police have announced they are no longer treating the death of a man, who was found dead in his home hours after an alleged assault, as a murder investigation.

On April 24, Peter Crowley was found dead at his home in Brome Place in Barton.

A murder investigation was launched after it was subsequently reported that 50-year-old Mr Crowley had been assaulted on the previous evening near the shops in Underhill Circus.

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A Home Office post-mortem examination, which was conducted on 25 April, was initially inconclusive, but has subsequently concluded that the cause of Mr Crowley’s death was mixed drug toxicity and alcoholic liver disease.

Oxford Mail:

Several arrests were made in connection with the investigation, including a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, both from Oxford, on suspicion of murder.

They have since been released by the force with no further action to the murder investigation, but remain on conditional police bail in connection with an assault investigation.

Three others, a 31-year-old man, a 35-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman, all from Oxford, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

The 35-year-old woman has been released under investigation with the 31-year-old man and 23-year-old woman remaining on bail.

The Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit have now concluded their murder investigation.

Oxford Mail:

Senior investigating officer detective inspector Mike Roddy, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “We were made aware that Mr Crowley had been assaulted on the previous evening near to the shops at Underhill Circus, and our investigations sought to ascertain whether that assault was in any way a cause to his death.

“Following this investigation, and subsequent post-mortem examination results, we have been unable to link the assault on 23 April with his death, although we have now interviewed the 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy in connection with the assault.

“Our investigation into this tragic incident has been ongoing for several months, and continues, but we are now able to confirm that we are not treating Mr Crowley’s death as a murder investigation.

“Our thoughts remain with Mr Crowley’s family and friends and the case has now been passed to the coroner for a full inquest into the circumstances.

“I would like to pass on my thanks to all those who came forward with information, and I would pay tribute to Mr Crowley’s family and friends for their patience and dignity while we sought to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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