Shropshire boy, 15, may have died due to a fight
The death of a 15-year-old Shropshire boy may have been caused by a fight he had days earlier, an inquest was told.
Liam Lawrence Lutner died in his sleep on September 26 at his home in from Hinstock, near Market Drayton.
At the inquest yesterday, Shropshire coroner John Ellery gave a narrative verdict.
He said the fight may have contributed to his death but it may have been caused by an unrelated cardiac arrest.
The inquest heard from Detective Sergeant Alan Crossley, from West Mercia Police major investigations unit, who spoke about two fights Liam was involved in on September 23.
He said: "Liam had a fight with a younger lad in Market Drayton. An agreement was made to meet in the town and a short fight took place, but Liam got the better of the young lad and the fight stopped."
He said there was no proof of any significant injury.
The hearing was told that shortly afterwards Liam was struck round the head by a 16-year-old but just walked away.
Detective Sergeant Crossley added: "Liam then went home where he spoke about the incidents, and on the Thursday and Friday he went to school, where he said he felt ill and had a headache.
"He went home after school on Friday and was on Facebook until about 12.10am on the Saturday morning. Sadly he was found deceased later that day at his home."
Detective Sergeant Crossley told the inquest how Liam's death was treated as a serious incident following a post-mortem, which was carried out by a Home Office pathologist.
A number of people were interviewed, but Detective Sergeant Crossley said he could not say if the fight was the cause of death.
Mr Ellery gave a narrative verdict at the inquest held yesterday at Wellington Register Office in Telford.
Liam's family were present at the inquest but did not wish to comment further.
In a statement at the time of his death, Liam's parents, John and Heather Lutner, of Wood Lane, said their son had "touched a lot of people with his sparkle".
The family statement said: "He was really enjoying school at Woodlands. He was doing so well and was a real star pupil. He liked cooking, woodwork, maths and design and technology and he was a very good cook."
