Met Police made 27 failings in ‘homophobic’ investigation of gay student’s death

The Met Police made 27 failings in the investigation into the death of gay student Ed Cornes, which his family has blamed on “homophobia”.

In October 2021, Cornes was found dead in a basement room of a hotel in King’s Cross, London, just two day into his first term at University College London. He was 19. 

His mother, Miriam Blythe, who described her son as her “best friend” and the “funniest, sweetest human being”, has accused Met officers of focusing on her son’s sexuality, failing to interview key witnesses, and of allowing crucial evidence to be lost while his death was being treated as a potential murder. 

Blythe has further accused the Met of dealing with the case with “an element of homophobia”. Her son’s best friend Sam Price, speaking to ITV, claimed: “The homophobia was there from the very beginning.”

The Met has confirmed an extensive investigation took place, ruling out third-party involvement, a conclusion that was upheld at an inquest. The inquest ruled that Cornes had left his university halls and met Matthew Butler, who he had never met before. 

Butler took him to the hotel room, which was five minutes from his halls. Inside the room was another man, Ian Casimir. Several hours later, Cornes was found dead with 36 cuts and other injuries. High levels of the drug GHB, which is often used in chemsex, were also found in his bloodstream. 

‘They focused on him being gay…’

Butler and Casimir were arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge. 

The force has apologised for how the case was handled and an internal review later found 27 failings. 

In 2023, the Baroness Casey review, commissioned in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 by serving firearms office Wayne Couzens, examined the culture and standards in London’s police force. The Met Police was found to be institutionally homophobic, racist and sexist.

Cornes’ mother said, as per ITV: “They treated us appallingly. They had no cause of death, and they refused to interview his friends. So they also had no idea who Ed was. 

“They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs. His lifestyle and sexuality.” 

Four years on and both Blythe and Price want the case reopened by a different police force and a new inquest into the 19-year-old student’s death. 

‘We apologise’

Metropolitan Police commander Stephen Clayman said: “It’s difficult to hear how the handling of our investigation into Edward’s death has added to the family’s pain during this painful time.

“The extensive investigation, which was subsequently reviewed, ruled out third-party involvement in Edward’s death and this conclusion was later reinforced at the inquest.

“But we accept that aspects of the way in which the case was handled did not meet the high standards we expect. While this did not affect the outcome of the investigation, we apologise to Edward’s family and friends for any further distress this caused.”

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