Man in 'suspicious' death named

A man pronounced dead in hospital after he was found at a house in Stoke-on-Trent has been named by police.

Bernard Joseph Doherty, 22, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, was found in Sunnybank, Middleport, in the early hours of Friday.

Two men arrested have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A post-mortem examination did not establish a definitive cause of death, but asphyxiation was the most likely reason, police said.

Family informed

A Home Office pathologist had requested further tests so that a definitive cause could be established, the Staffordshire force said.

Police added that the death was being treated as suspicious.

The arrested men - aged 52 and 51 - were held on suspicion of assault, police had earlier said.

Mr Doherty was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Although formal identification of the man who died had yet to take place, his family have been informed, police said.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Staffordshire Police or Crimestoppers.

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