AN INQUEST into the death of prison officer Nick Medlin, who died on Christmas Day in Ventnor, was opened and adjourned at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court today (Tuesday).
The court was told how Mr Medlin, 57, of South Street, Ventnor, was out with his wife and sons on Christmas Eve in Ventnor when he was allegedly assaulted outside The Rose Inn in Pier Street.
During an alleged altercation, he hit his head on the concrete pavement.
An ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead outside the pub at 00.10am on Christmas Day. A post mortem carried out at St Mary’s Hospital on Boxing Day gave the cause of death as a head injury.
Isle of Wight Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, passed her condolences to Mr Medlin’s family and adjourned the inquest to July 11 this year.
She suspended the inquest pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings concerning Mr Medlin’s death.
A man charged with killing Mr Medlin appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates on December 29.
Michael John Hudson is charged with manslaughter. He did not enter a plea. Mr Hudson, 32, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody and will appear at Winchester Crown Court on January 23.
Two other men arrested on suspicion with murder have been bailed until April 11 pending further enquiries.