On Air Greatest Hits Chris Kinley | 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Man's death 'not unlawful'

Inquest records narrative verdict

An inquest has ruled a Douglas man who died two months after being assaulted was not unlawfully killed.

Peter Eric Hammond, 54, was attacked in the street and taken to hospital on 17 December, discharging himself a fortnight later.

But his condition worsened, and he died on 5 February this year.

The inquest heard from a range of witnesses, including the medical staff who dealt with Mr Hammond, police officers, and his close friends and relatives.

There was also evidence from Mr Hammond himself, in the form of a police statement he gave a day after being attacked.

A 'good samaritan'

By all accounts, Peter Hammond was a gentleman.

Born in Canada and educated in Guernsey, he'd spent most of his life in the Isle of Man, and served as an engineer aboard nuclear submarines during the Falklands conflict.

The father-of-one lived alone , and had struggled with depression and alcoholism for several years. But he was described by his mother as a 'warm hearted' soul to whom it was 'in his nature to help others'. Tragically, it was to be this compassionate side of him which triggered the chain of events ultimately leading to his death.

Mr Hammond had been enjoying drinks with a friend on the evening of Saturday, 17 December, and was said to be in 'good spirits'. He left around 10pm.

A recent diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), as well as a chronic nerve impairment, meant he used a mobility scooter to get around. Boarding the scooter to go home, he spotted a woman in distress being hassled by two men.

He told the pair to 'back off', and one turned on him. CCTV footage shows him being kicked, stamped, and jumped on.

Mr Hammond was taken to hospital with head and chest injuries.

'He just gave up'

After he came round, friends and family noticed a sudden change in his character.

The once-lively character was said to be 'dulled', frail, and at times incoherent. His best friend described him as a 'broken man', both mentally and physically.

Mr Hammond's condition did improve in the following days, but just before New Year, and against the advice of doctors, he discharged himself from Noble's Hospital.

Things went downhill from there.

He lost weight rapidly. His personal hygeine suffered, and he failed to attend a follow-up appointment at Noble's. Soon afterwards, he started to lose his balance, and suffered a number of increasingly debilitating falls.

A visit from a friend on 30 January found him on the floor in pain. An ambulance was called, and Mr Hammond was re-admitted to hospital. His condition deteriorated rapidly over the next seven days, and on 5 February, he passed away.

Narrative verdict

A post-mortem found the cause of death to be sepsis and multiple organ failure, brought on by pneumonia and inflammation of the lungs.

There still remains a question among experts as to whether or not this was related to the assault he'd endured on 17 December.

Years of heavy drinking and smoking had caused serious liver damage and emphesyma - better known as 'smoker's lung'. He also suffered from osteoporosis. We already know he was using a mobility scooter to get around.

And while there is no doubt he sustained serious injuries in the unprovoked attack, what is still not clear is whether that incident caused - or accelerated - his terminal decline in health.

Based on the evidence heard since March, Deputy High Bailiff and acting Coroner Jayne Hughes was only able rule out the possibilities of unlawful killing or accidental death, as the facts available did not prove those conclusions beyond reasonable doubt.

The man who assaulted Mr Hammond, 32-year-old Douglas man Arkadiusz Rybczynski, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm.

In the end, a narrative verdict was returned, and the inquest closed.

Summing up, Mrs Hughes passed on condolences to Mr Hammond's friends and family - adding his decision to intervene in an unpleasant situation, in spite of all his health problems, was 'one of the bravest things anyone could ever have done'.

More from Isle of Man News