Kyle witnesses ‘abused police’

KYLE: died after falling 40ft

THE family of 16-year-old Kyle Winterbottom, who fell 40ft to his death at a party didn’t get the answers they need because witnesses abused police instead of making statements.

Kyle, from Hollins, died after taking a cocktail of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis and falling from a balcony at a friend’s council flat at Heywood House, Eldon Street, in the early hours of August 4, 2012.

Coroner Simon Nelson ruled yesterday that Kyle died as a result of misadventure: he slipped as he attempted to swing from one balcony to another below.

Mr Nelson dismissed suggestions from Kyle’s family he might have have been unknowingly given drugs or pushed off the balcony.

Witnesses said they saw Kyle attempting to swing to the floor below when only he and a girl were on the balcony.

But two years on, Kyle’s family remains unconvinced they have heard everything that happened.

Kyle’s mum, Joanne Kelly, said: “There are a lot of questions I want answering. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Mr Nelson said some of Kyle’s family’s questions were unable to be answered, partly because of how “disgraceful, uncooperative and abusive” some of the witnesses were after the fall.

A number of young people at the scene did not answer police questions and hurled abuse at them instead.

Mr Nelson added: “I believe there would have been certain individuals who would have been able to provide evidence that would have filled the many gaps.”