- Police sources almost immediately treated the death as “non suspicious” and said there was no suggestion that Doherty was involved in the death. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At this early stage it does not appear there was any third party involvement in the incident. However, police retain an open mind and inquiries continue.” ((Unknown Author (07 December 2006) “Party fall actor had clash with Doherty“. This Is London))
- A post-mortem examination revealed Mark Blanco died from “severe head injuries”. ((http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23377169-party-fall-actor-had-clash-with-doherty.do))
10 days after the event a Met spokesperson released the following statement ((Rayner, Gordon (17 Dec 2006) “Doherty cleared of involvement in actor’s death“. Mail Online)):
Everyone at the party has been spoken to and no suspicious circumstances have been found. There is no suggestion a third party was involved. Nobody has been charged. We are continuing to investigate the incident, and once the officer in charge is satisfied, the file will be passed to the coroner. This could happen at the end of next week
This was roundly criticised by family and friends of Mr Blanco. As Pauline Forster was quoted.
The family are not going to sit and take this. The police can’t just wrap it up easily like that. There are lots of issues which still haven’t been settled and the police can’t simply accept the word of the people at the party, many of whom had been taking drugs. I am horrified.
In his summing up of the inquest into Mark’s death at Poplar Coroner’s Court on 4th October 2007, the Coroner, Dr Andrew Reid, agreed,
The sound of his (Mark’s) impact on the ground was heard by a person in a neighbouring flat in the block 18 of Fieldgate Mansions. This person also heard preceding the impact with the ground, the sounds of a number of people up and down the stairs preceding this final event.
I will no longer go on any further to consider the possibility that Mr Blanco committed suicide, I can exclude it unreservedly. On the evidence I have heard, my only conclusion can be an Open Verdict. I am going to ask the Metropolitan Police Service to review and re-open the investigation.
The police opened a second investigation into the incident which also proved inconclusive. They are currently reviewing new evidence that has come to light through the media and forensic investigations.