Death of British man in Mojacar: family secures coroner's investigation in United Kingdom
A British court will reopen an investigation into the death of Brett Dryden, 35, who was found with severe injuries at his home in Mojacar in July 2024. His parents claim that Spanish authorities closed the case without identifying those responsible.
Reopening of investigation in United Kingdom
A British court will reopen in January the investigation into the death of Brett Dryden, 35, who was found with severe injuries at his home in the Ventanicas-El Cantal area of Mojacar in July 2024. According to The Olive Press, the hearing will take place on 8 January at South Shields Coroner's Court, as confirmed to the Diario de Almería by his mother Sandra.
The family considers this step a victory following the closure of the case by Spanish authorities. The parents are confident that the British investigation will establish the exact circumstances of the death and put pressure on the Spanish courts to reopen the process.
Evidence of violence
A second autopsy carried out after the body was repatriated to the United Kingdom ruled out a drug overdose. Forensic pathologist Dr P N Cooper found injuries consistent with a violent assault, concluding that Brett asphyxiated on his own blood following "traumatic brain injury from blunt impact".
The report also revealed that the cadaver arrived in England without a heart and right kidney. Security cameras recorded two hooded men entering the home minutes after Brett arrived with a substantial amount of cash, leaving fifteen minutes later with his iPhone and approximately 8,000 euros in cash.
Investigation stalled in Spain
Guardia Civil officers specialising in homicides identified leads that allowed them to trace the stolen telephone to a home in nearby Vera linked to a known criminal. However, a judge at the Instruction Court number 4 in Vera provisionally closed the case after failing to identify those responsible by name.
The family's lawyers are awaiting the resolution of an appeal to the provincial court of Almería to reopen the investigation, although they acknowledge having little hope in the Spanish justice system. They have offered a reward of 20,000 euros for information leading to a conviction, hired private detectives whose findings were sent to the Vera court without response, and in March met with Europe Minister Stephen Doughty in London.
A production company is also making a documentary about the case with advice from the charity Murdered Abroad.
Additional complications
Sandra has revealed that the family has begun receiving Spanish traffic fines in Brett's name more than two years after his death. The vehicle, which was not taken in the robbery, remained in the hands of an acquaintance who broke contact with Sandra when she attempted to recover it and apparently sold it for merely 500 euros to two local young people.
The car continues to be driven on Spanish roads in Brett's name, with the fines arriving at the family home in the United Kingdom.
Source: The Olive Press