Inquest jury visits death scene

Jason McGowan was found hanged from railings

An inquest jury has visited the spot where a man was found hanged six months after the death of his uncle.

The 11 jurors also visited the pub where Jason McGowan, 20, had attended a party hours before his body was found.

His body was discovered hanged by a belt around his neck from railings in Telford, Shropshire at about 0600 GMT on New Year's Day 2000.

The spot where he died is now marked with a bunch of flowers and a plaque in his memory.

Uncle's death

The jurors, Telford and Wrekin coroner Michael Gwynne, members of the McGowan family, police officers and legal representatives were taken by coach from the Moat House Hotel where the inquest is being heard.

They were shown four CCTV cameras in the Elephant and Castle pub.

On Tuesday, Mr Gwynne told the jury that police had also investigated the death of Mr McGowan's uncle, Errol McGowan, in Telford.

More than 1,350 people had been interviewed after officers linked the deaths of the uncle and nephew, said Mr Gwynne.

The jury heard how Mr McGowan disappeared from the Elephant and Castle pub in Ketley late on Millennium Eve.

The inquest is expected to last five weeks.