Home / Crime and Justice / 42-Year Fight for Truth: Boy's Death Ruled Unlawful Killing
42-Year Fight for Truth: Boy's Death Ruled Unlawful Killing
3 Nov
Summary
- A knot found at the scene suggested it wasn't self-tied.
- The original ruling was an open verdict, now overturned.
- Police now consider the 1984 death an unsolved murder.
An inquest heard that a knot discovered at the scene of Mark Billington's 1984 death was unlikely to have been tied by the 15-year-old himself. Mark's body was found hanging in woodland near Coventry, nearly seven miles from his home in Birmingham, two months after he disappeared. Initially treated as a suicide, police reclassified the case as a murder inquiry in 2002, though no one has been charged.
A consultant forensic pathologist testified that the rope was tied in an unusual and elaborate manner, and Mark's physical condition, including weakness on his left side, made it improbable he could have secured the knot. The pathologist also noted decomposition prevented assessment for blunt force trauma or other assault.
The family has fought for 42 years for the truth. The original inquest recorded an open verdict, but the High Court has since overturned that ruling. Evidence presented suggests Mark's disappearance was out of character, with his parents having no concerns about his mental health. West Midlands Police now considers the case an unsolved murder, acknowledging earlier failings in the investigation.
Mark was last seen on September 1, 1984, after completing his paper round and later flying a kite in a local park. His bike was reportedly seen near the location where his body was found. His kite was discovered hidden in a hedge behind his family home two weeks later. The case gained renewed attention after the conviction of Brian Field for another murder in 2001.
