The Story The police, lost evidence and a search for the truth.
Dec 15, 2025
Miriam Blythe, mother of Edward Cornes, shares her heart-wrenching testimony about her son's suspicious death shortly after starting university. Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter at The Times, unpacks the flawed police investigation, highlighting lost evidence and potential biases. Together, they explore how assumptions about Edward's lifestyle hindered justice and discuss the broader implications of police handling cases involving young LGBTQ+ individuals. Miriam's fight for truth and recognition continues, emphasizing the importance of awareness and accountability.
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Discovery At The Door
- Miriam Blythe describes the moment detectives told her Edward was dead and her immediate shock.
- She recounts being blamed by officers who implied her son was at fault for taking drugs and being gay.
Critical Evidence Was Lost
- Fiona Hamilton outlines key investigative failures including lost CCTV and untraced witnesses.
- She stresses those gaps undermined understanding of Edward's condition and timeline that night.
Conflicting Witness Accounts
- Fiona recounts Butler and Casimir's conflicting accounts and their initial arrest as suspects.
- She notes Butler described sexual activity while Casimir denied any intercourse in the room.