POLICE at Burnley are keeping open their files into the death fall of student Crispin Carbury.

The Sheffield University student suffered head injuries in a 30-feet fall from a service ramp at Burnley Market Hall while out celebrating his birthday with friends.

An inquest in Burnley yesterday failed to find an answer to the mystery of why Crispin left the Heavens night club and how he came to plunge to his death from the ramp.

He would have been 21 the next day.

Recording an open verdict, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said: "Events are still a mystery.

"There is no direct evidence to say it was an accident or to say there was anyone involved.

"Why he should go up that ramp is quite a mystery. The events of his death will always be an open file as far as police are concerned.''

Crispin, of Highgate Lane, Farnborough, Hants, was spending some days in Burnley at the home of a friend Mathew Thompson.

Along with others they went drinking in Burnley centre before going to the club about 11pm on Saturday, January 17. Mathew and another friend were asked to leave the club and spent two hours outside waiting for the others to come out.

None of the friends, who had all been drinking heavily, could remember seeing Crispin near to the 4am closing time and assumed he must have gone with someone else.

Detective Chief Inspector Clive Tattum revealed that Crispin's watch had stopped at 1.45am, which could indicate that was the time of his fall and explain why his friends could not find him.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler said all the injuries were consistent with a fall from at least 20 feet.

There were no signs that Crispin had been involved in any kind of struggle or fight. There was no evidence of assault or restraint.

He had drunk the equivalent of at least ten pints of beer. He had not taken drugs of any kind.

DCI Tattum said there were four feet high railings at the spot where Crispin fell.

More than 50 people had been seen and spoken to, without anything being said to suggest there was anything untoward that night.

Expressing his sympathy to the family, Mr Smith said it was tragic that Crispin's first visit to Burnley should end in that way.

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