Gumleaf
February 8th, 2008, 08:43 PM
Saturday Feb 9 09:16 AEDT
The corpse of a man believed to have died at least eight years ago has been found in a flat where an elderly tenant continued to live.
Police are investigating the gruesome discovery, made after neighbours reported a foul smell coming from the flat in Bristol, southwest England.
It is understood that the pensioner who continued to live in the flat, with the corpse on the sofa, failed to report the death due to mental health problems.
"I only just found out today, I was a little shocked. I did used to see him day by day, but had no idea what happened," said local resident Albert Townsend.
It is believed that the body was there for at least eight years. "We were alerted to the body after we received reports of a smell," said a spokesman for Bristol City Council.
"We are shocked and concerned by this discovery and are carrying out an urgent internal review of the circumstances of the tenant. A police investigation is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
Former local councillor Peter Crispin said the discovery showed the "lack of community spirit" in high-rise flats.
"It is everyone's nightmare to think they could die without anyone noticing ... I hope a very vigorous investigation takes place," he said.
The corpse of a man believed to have died at least eight years ago has been found in a flat where an elderly tenant continued to live.
Police are investigating the gruesome discovery, made after neighbours reported a foul smell coming from the flat in Bristol, southwest England.
It is understood that the pensioner who continued to live in the flat, with the corpse on the sofa, failed to report the death due to mental health problems.
"I only just found out today, I was a little shocked. I did used to see him day by day, but had no idea what happened," said local resident Albert Townsend.
It is believed that the body was there for at least eight years. "We were alerted to the body after we received reports of a smell," said a spokesman for Bristol City Council.
"We are shocked and concerned by this discovery and are carrying out an urgent internal review of the circumstances of the tenant. A police investigation is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
Former local councillor Peter Crispin said the discovery showed the "lack of community spirit" in high-rise flats.
"It is everyone's nightmare to think they could die without anyone noticing ... I hope a very vigorous investigation takes place," he said.