Coroner halts inquest into boy's death in Rotherham canal
A coroner has halted an inquest into the death of an 11-year-old boy who drowned in a Rotherham canal
A coroner has halted an inquest into the death of an 11-year-old boy who drowned in a Rotherham canal, saying she wanted more clarification about the police investigation.
The mum of Subhaan Ali told the hearing at Doncaster Coroner's Court she believes her son may have been pushed into the water behind the Parkgate Retail Park last July.
Zaura Ali said she believed Subhaan had been bullied by a group of children, and that he would not have jumped into the canal as he was scared of water and could hardly swim.
Doncaster Coroner's Court heard statements from two children who were with Subhaan when he died, who both said he jumped in of his own accord. But each had differing account of the events leading up to this.
Detective Constables Simon Taylor and Victoria Kenny said senior officers had already deemed the death not to be suspicious.
Det Con Kenny said there was nothing but rumours that there had been "any kind of foul play or anything like that''.
Rotherham Coroner Nicola Mundy told the court she was adjourning the case so South Yorkshire Police could provide her with more clarification about this decision.
The coroner acknowledged Mrs Ali's concerns about previous bullying of her son and how he had got into the water.
But the coroner warned the family that her actions today might not change anything about the evidence she is considering.
Statements made by two boys who were with Subhaan when he died were read to the court by Det Con Taylor. One of the youngsters said: *He ran right fast, jumped high and landed in the middle of the canal.''*
Det Con Taylor told the court: (The boy) reiterated that no-one had pushed Subhaan into the water.''
Witness Barry Reddish told the court how he was fixing a puncture near the canal when he noticed the group of children.
He said he saw Subhaan in the water at one point, and then get out.
Mr Reddish said he then noticed Subhaan in the water a second time, further along the canal, and this is when he got into difficulty.
He said he was shouting I can't swim, I can't swim'', and went under the water.
Mr Reddish said two other boys had been in the water but they had gone to the side.
Earlier, Mrs Ali told the court Subhaan could not swim well - only ever staying in the shallow end at the swimming pool - and was scared of water.
In a statement read to the court, Mrs Ali said: My son's death has devastated my life, which is over.'
I believe he must have been pushed. I will never accept he went into the water on his own.''
The inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed.