'I want someone to go round to that house': Coroner's demand after key witness fails to turn up
An inquest into the death of Barry Dillon had a false start when a key witness didn't turn up in court
The driver of a car involved in a fatal crash with a dad-of-12 failed to turn up to an inquest into his death.
Barry Dillon, 51, died following the incident on June 7, 2024. An inquest into his death was due to go ahead yesterday (Tuesday, June 3).
But proceedings were adjourned when key witness Ishfaq Hussain - the driver of the vehicle - failed to attend Bolton Coroner's Court, despite a summons being issued.
The court heard police went to the property where Mr Hussain is believed to live, but there was no answer. A court summons was put through the letterbox.
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Mr Dillon's family was present in court. His daughter Rebecca Saunders said: "I'm not happy at all with the fact that he's not been present. I don't think that Greater Manchester Police have done all that they can."
The Crown Prosecution Service previously decided not to charge Mr Hussain with either causing death by dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving due to the low chance of a conviction, the court heard.
Senior coroner Timothy Brennand said he was not satisfied with the way the summons had been delivered, telling the court: "It's very clear to me that there's been sub-optimal service of the witness summons. I think more needs to be done. I find the absence of Mr Ishfaq Hussain concerning and unsatisfactory.
"I want someone to go round to that house and I want door to door enquiries made as to whether he's still living there."
He told the court he intends to pursue contempt of court proceedings against Mr Hussain if it emerges that he deliberately tried to avoid the summons.
Mr Brennand described Mr Dillon's death as being the result of a 'perfect storm of events'. He adjourned the inquest to September 16.
"I want to ask this man some questions," he said. "I want to know why he isn't here."
Emergency services descended on the Asda supermarket on Great Cheetham Street East at around 2.20am on June 7, 2024. Mr Dillon, from Weaste in Salford - known to his loved ones as 'Baz' - died following a collision.
Paying tribute to her dad after his tragic death, Mr Dillon's daughter Jessica, 25, from Salford, said previously: “He was quite a hands-on-dad and a very bubbly character. He had a very good sense of humour. He loved having a big family. He absolutely loved it."