MI6 Worker's Body 'Padlocked Shut' In Bag

4:58pm UK, Wednesday September 01, 2010

Alison Chung, Sky News Online

An MI6 codebreaker whose decomposed body was found in a holdall in his bath had been padlocked into the bag, an inquest has heard.

Gareth Williams, 30, was found dead in his flat in Pimlico - half a mile from the MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall - nine days ago.

Despite two post-mortem examinations, the cause of his death is yet to be established and investigations are continuing.

Police have described it as "suspicious and unexplained" but have refused to categorise it as a murder, despite the bizarre circumstances.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman told a brief hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court in central LondonMr Williams was found in a holdall which was "padlocked shut".

He said the "lifeless body" appeared to be in an "advanced state of decay", adding that he would be kept informed of the progress of the police investigation.

Policewoman outside flat where body of MI6 security service worker was found in central London

The Government flat where Mr Williams' body was found

"As always, the family will be anxious to have the body released following post-mortem," he said.

"We have talked about this and I am not inclined to allow this to occur at the present time."

He adjourned the inquest to Wednesday, September 8.

No members of Mr Williams' family were in court.

Mr Williams was last seen alive eight days before his corpse was discovered.

Police have not said whether the sighting was made on CCTV or came from another source.

The investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police's Homicide Command with the security-vetted Counter-Terror Command (SO15) playing a lesser role in proceedings.

Officers are still trying to determine whether he was asphyxiated or poisoned or if drugs or alcohol were present in his system.

A pathologist found Mr Williams had not been stabbed or shot and there were no obvious signs of strangulation.

Mr Williams was just days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service - also known as MI6 - when he died.