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Search forBarnstaple body: police say death was not suspicious
Friday, November 21, 2008, 16:18
A post-mortem examination was held at 12.30 today.
Now police are working to establish an identity for the body which was found in bushes near Bear Street on Wednesday, using DNA and dental records.
It's thought the body had lain undiscovered for two months.
But DNA tests will only produce a result if the dead man has been arrested previously.
The effectiveness of dental records will depend on whether the dead man went to the dentist.
Police believe he may have been a rough sleeper and may not have had regular dental checks.
Phil Davey from the Barnstaple Poverty Action Group said police had contacted the organisation as part of their investigation.
But he said they had not been able to give them very much information.
He said: "It would be almost impossible to have a guess at who it might be."
Mr Davey said it was not a surprise that a rough sleeper could die and not be missed for two months.
He said: "It is often the case with people living these transient lifestyles that they do not want to be found.
"But this will be somebody's son, somebody's brother or perhaps someone's father. There is a real personal tragedy here."
The decomposing body was found by two young Barnstaple men at lunchtime on Wednesday.
One of the young men had gone into the bushes to relieve himself and found the corpse, which he at first mistook for a bonfire night Guy.
He then called his friend to see the body before calling police.
The pair said rumours that the body was concealed beneath paving slabs were untrue.
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The body was found in bushes near Bear Street.
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