Inquest to reopen into chainsaw death at estate

9:32am Tuesday 18th November 2008

AN inquest into the death of a Hampshire man whose head was severed by a chainsaw is due to be held tomorrow.

David Phyall, 50, had been depressed about attempts to make him leave his home, which has since been demolished as part of a £7.8m plan to redevelop the neighbourhood.

Police and paramedics discovered his body after being called to his ground floor flat in Bodmin Road, Bishopstoke, in July this year.

Described by the police as “vulnerable”, Mr Phyall had lived in his flat for 20 years and wanted to remain in the property, despite plans to bulldoze the estate.

He was the only person still living in Bodmin Road and was surrounded by scores of empty, boarded-up flats.

Mr Phyall, who rented the property from Atlantic Housing Ltd, is understood to have been unhappy since plans to raze the flats and redevelop the area were passed in 2006.

It is thought that he may have been served with an eviction notice issued through the courts shortly before his death.

Atlantic Housing said Mr Phyall had rejected nine offers of alternative accommodation since January last year. Two offers made by other social landlords had also been declined.

Speaking shortly after the tragedy Ron Turtle, chairman of Stoke Residents’ Association, said: “They had offered him several places that were similar but he just didn’t want to move.

“In the end they had to go to court.”

Anne Winstanley, chairman of Bishopstoke Parish Council, said: “The last I heard they were still negotiating with him to try to provide what he required to move into as an alternative.

“It sounds very tragic for whatever reason he met his death.”

All the properties in Bodmin Road have now been demolished.

They are due to be replaced by 54 flats and 24 houses.