Police have confirmed there have been no further arrests and no charges following the death of a 28-year-old woman who was found unresponsive on Connington Road in Lewisham.
Officers were called to reports of an unresponsive woman on the south-east London street on 5 August. Emergency services attended, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
In August, the Metropolitan Police said the death was being treated as unexpected. A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, but he was subsequently released on bail.
“At this stage”
Asked for an update on the case, the force said there had been no charges or further arrests “at this stage”, but confirmed the criminal investigation remains ongoing.
The Met was also asked to set out the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death amid speculation in the local community. No further details about the circumstances have been released.
Connington Road runs through a largely residential part of Lewisham, close to the Docklands Light Railway, and the incident has prompted concern among people living nearby. Police have thanked the public for their patience while enquiries continue.
Officers are continuing their enquiries in the area. Anyone who was on or around Connington Road on 5 August and saw anything that could help is urged to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
What happens next in an investigation like this
When a death is initially treated as unexpected, detectives will usually keep an open mind while awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination. Toxicology analysis, which can reveal whether drugs or other substances played a part, can take several weeks to come back from the laboratory.
In the meantime, officers will review CCTV from cameras covering the area, carry out door-to-door enquiries, and trace anyone who may have seen or spoken to the woman in the hours before she was found. Statements from the members of the public who raised the alarm and from the emergency crews who attended the scene will also form part of the investigation file.
The 25-year-old man arrested in August was released on bail, which means the investigation is still live and officers may need to question the suspect again as new evidence comes to light. Release on bail is not an exoneration: it simply means enquiries are continuing, and a suspect on bail can be re-arrested if fresh information emerges.
Once police enquiries are complete, detectives will normally compile a file for the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a charge. Any charging decision must pass both the evidential test and the public interest test.
Separately, the coroner will open an inquest into the woman’s death. Inquests are routinely opened and then adjourned while a criminal investigation is under way, and are only resumed once police and prosecutors have concluded their work.
The Met has stressed that, “at this stage”, no charges have been brought and nobody else has been arrested — wording that leaves all options open as enquiries continue.
Support for anyone affected
The death of a young woman will have affected many people, including those who live nearby, those who knew her, and anyone who came across the emergency response on the day.
Samaritans offers round-the-clock support to anyone who is struggling. The charity can be contacted free of charge, at any time of day or night, on 116 123.
Victim Support also provides free and confidential help to anyone affected by crime, whether or not the incident has been reported to the police. Support is available through its website and national helpline.
More court and crime coverage
London Streets continues to follow crime and court cases across the capital, including the case of two Lewisham men jailed over a phone shop robbery in Woking and the Beckenham brothers jailed over a kidnap plot linked to a Lewisham Nando’s.
