Inquest into Jlloyd Samuel crash to open after family claim his death was 'faked'
A two-day inquest into Jlloyd Samuel’s death has opened today to address concerns raised by his family that the late Premier League defender is actually still alive.
The family have released an astonishing statement expressing their reason to believe that Samuel’s death last year was faked by his wife as part of a large insurance scam. The 37-year-old died in a devastating traffic collision in High Legh, Cheshire, which involved his Range Rover and a van in May 2018.
Yesterday’s inquest confirmed that the cause of Samuel’s death was “nothing more than a collision” and no “foul play” was suspected.
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Samuel’s body was recovered from the crash, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. However, the ex-footballer’s sister Leslie-Ann and her parents believe that he wasn’t at the wheel during the collision and that the remains found in the car were “unrecognisable”.
It was discovered that Samuel’s car veered onto the wrong side of the road before the impact of the collision threw the car into the air. Blood samples following the crash indicated that Samuel was over the drink-drive limit, toxicologist Nicola Martin reported.
His body was discovered by the inquest to have been “extensively burnt” and difficult to visually identify after a fireball engulfed his car. Leslie-Ann Samuel believes that the DNA taken from the crash did not match that of her brother’s.
Despite the initial problems with identification, forensics were satisfied that Samuel’s dental records matched those from the body at the scene.
“This is as clear as we can be,” said forensic biologist Alexandra Clark, referring to a blood sample from the Cheshire collision matching cellular material from Samuel’s hairbrush.
Clark stated that the tests run on the hairbrush were “a billion times more likely” to match Samuel than anyone else who may have used it.
Prior to the inquest, Leslie-Ann posted a photo on her Instagram of a letter from the coroner denying Samuel’s family their request to carry out private DNA tests. She has also written a series of messages on social media directed at her brother.
“Jlloyd we WILL see you soon, in this life” read one message.
“Jlloyd brother we know you are ALIVE and well and we know the DNA the pathologist have is not your DNA... 100%... Lies.”
“Her complaint was investigated thoroughly by senior officers who ruled that the investigation into Mr Samuel’s death was proportionate, timely and of the standard required,” stated a spokesman for the Cheshire Police.
“These conclusions were verified in a peer review by an independent police force. As such, the complaint was not upheld.”
The letter received by Leslie-Ann also reports that Samuel’s widow Emma gave the family permission on two occasions to conduct DNA testing.
Leslie-Ann was given 28 days to appeal the decision not to further investigate DNA, however the family did not make an appeal.
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During day one of the inquest in Warrington, coroner Alan Moore confirmed the body taken from the crash scene was that of Jlloyd Samuel. Leslie-Ann commented that the body’s right arm was missing but pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf debunked her statement.
“That was not how the body was left and we have photographs to prove it,” stated Medcalf.
The late wife of the Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa defender claimed she was in “big financial difficulty” following the death of her husband. Emma Samuel said she was forced to sell her car and the family home last year to support her three children.
A ladies lunch was organised by reality star Dawn Ward which raised £10,000 for Emma and her family.
The current inquest continues.
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