THE death of a 19-year-old boy in Tilehurst is ‘extremely likely’ to be concluded in an inquest rather than a criminal investigation, a coroner’s court has heard.
Sheldon Lewcock was riding an electric bike when he was involved in a collision in Pierces Hill on August 4 last year.
Four people were arrested in connection with the case which was at first being treated as a murder investigation.
READ MORE: Sheldon Lewcock investigation: Police confirm no updates
Two men, aged 18 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy, all from Reading, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 38-year-old man from Reading was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
However, these charges were later dropped and Thames Valley Police have confirmed this month there have been no further arrests and updates on the case.
Today (March 21) at Reading Coroner’s Court, a pre-inquest review into Mr Lewcock’s death was opened.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor told the family that it is ‘extremely likely’ the case will be referred back to the coroner’s court as opposed to the Crown Court for criminal proceedings.
She said: “The police investigation report which is due to come out soon looks at whether the case should be criminal or going to an inquest and it’s extremely likely it’s going to come to me and not the criminal review.
“It’s extremely likely that it will come to me and the police will explain that decision.”
READ MORE: Inquest opens into death of one-year-old baby boy
Mr Lewcock’s sister asked the court whether the decision had been made as she feels her brother has ‘not got the justice he deserves’.
She said: “It’s just been going on forever, we just want some sort of justice for my brother. It was an attempted murder investigation then a murder investigation then a traffic collision investigation.
“We just want to know what’s going on and we feel [my brother] is not getting the justice he deserves.”
Ms Connor responded: “It hasn’t been made and if it went the other way we wouldn’t have an inquest but I’ve done this for a long, long time and looking into the whites of your eyes now I think it’s highly likely that it will come to me.”
A representative from the road traffic collision unit confirmed that the report making a final decision on what will happen to Mr Lewcock’s case will be published within seven to 10 days.
READ MORE: Metallic horseshoe used to strike man, 24, who died at Reading station
Ms Connor said they couldn’t decide on specific witnesses to be called to the full inquest yet if it should take place.
A full inquest has been scheduled for October 5 this year.
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