Man jumped to his death after raping 16-year-old girl

Dec 22 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A MAN jumped from his 14th- floor flat after raping a 16-year-old girl, an inquest in Wirral heard.

Factory worker David Boyd, 53, climbed on to a chair and jumped from the balcony after carrying out the assault.

The coroner’s court at Wallasey town hall was told Boyd had spent the evening with two young women drinking and smoking cannabis.

But, after he and one of the girls walked her friend home, Boyd’s victim returned to his flat, at which point he began attacking her.

Coroner’s officer Arthur Flower told the inquest Boyd had punched the young woman in the face before the sexual assault, and at one point had dragged her by the hair into the bedroom.

Mr Flower said that, after the attack, Boyd had got dressed and went to the kitchen to get a chair before taking it to the balcony, saying to the young woman he intended to jump.

He climbed on the chair and made to step on to the balcony, but slipped and fell back on to the floor, according to the girl, before getting up again and jumping off.

He fell about 100ft and died immediately in the grounds of the Thornridge block of flats, on Stavordale Road, Moreton. His victim called the emergency services, who confirmed David Boyd’s death at 12.03am on Sunday, April 23, 2006. A post mortem later confirmed he died as a result of multiple injuries following the fall.

A post mortem found Boyd had around 2½ times the alcohol level for driving in his blood, as well as traces of cannabis.

Det Insp George Davis told the inquest subsequent examinations corroborated the 16-year-old’s allegations and description of events.

He also told the inquest: “There is no evidence to indicate any other person was directly or indirectly responsible.”

Coroner Christopher Johnson said he could not conclude he had intended to take his own life, and recorded an open verdict.