What caused the death of a man whose body was part

What caused the death of a man whose body was partially eaten
by his dogs remains shrouded in mystery.

Coroner Sir Montague Levine recorded an open verdict today
after being told a post mortem on the body of thirty-seven year-old
Peter Comber could not pinpoint the cause of his death.

The remains of Mr Comber, an interior decorator, born
in Bromley, Kent, was found at his flat at Devon Mansions, Tooley
Street, on March 2 1993.

Because of its gruesome condition, identification had to be
made by dental records.

It is believed the deceased had been dead for several weeks.

Pc John Weighill from Southwark Police station told the court
he broke into Mr Comber’s flat after being alerted by worried
neighbours.

He said: ‘I saw a dog lying dead in the hall and there was
another one yapping.

‘I opened the door and saw the remains of a man.

The dog was sitting on the man, it looked like the dogs had
eaten him.

‘
He found no signs of a break in at the home, Southwark
Coroners Court was told.

The court was told that the pathologist had been unable
to ascertain how he had died.

Sister of the deceased, Barbara kennedy, from Broadstairs,
Kent, described her brother as a solitary man.

She said that he had recently started voluntary work with
disabled people.

Coroner Sir Levine said: ‘What a terrible and horrific case
this is.

‘
‘We shall never know how this man died, but there is no
record of anyone breaking into his flat.

‘When he was found, the body had been eaten by the dogs.

‘
ends