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How did Vimal Dajibhai come to fall from the Clifton Suspension Bridge on 5 August 1986?

Asked 3 Nov 2026 by ·Part of Which of the deaths remain unexplained after their inquests, and what would settle each one?·2 answers·0·0 following
Two answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The first case to draw attention: an open verdict, no known reason to be in Bristol, and a puncture wound the coroner's office called a mystery.

Answers 2

Killed by someone else
Evidence for it, no test yet
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Suicide, as police and coroner suspected
Evidence for it, no test yet
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

Next steps 2

1
Ask the Avon coroner for Dajibhai's inquest record
Could decidePoor odds
13score
Details

Request the 1986-87 inquest file (verdict, pathology, toxicology, the wound) from the Avon coroner or Bristol Archives; inquest records are usually closed for 75 years but the coroner can allow access. The pathology would separate suicide from an injection.

2
Read Vimal Dajibhai's inquest file
Could shiftFair odds~6 h
11score
Details

Request the Avon coroner's 1986–87 inquest papers on Vimal Dajibhai, or the Bristol Evening Post's inquest reports, for the evidence behind the open verdict and the reported puncture wound.

Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes

History

  1. House of Commons: suicide suspected; police inquiry closed with no link foundFor: Suicide, as police and coroner suspected
  2. Tyler Marshall: an unexplained puncture wound and no known reason to be in BristolFor: Killed by someone else
  3. House of Commons: suicide suspected; police inquiry closed with no link foundFor: Suicide, as police and coroner suspected
  4. Marcus Eliason: suicide suspected; police inquiry closed with no link foundFor: Suicide, as police and coroner suspected
  5. Marcus Eliason: an unexplained puncture wound and no known reason to be in BristolFor: Killed by someone else
  6. Howard Witt: an unexplained puncture wound and no known reason to be in BristolFor: Killed by someone else
  7. Session 1: raised the question and found two results bearing on its answers
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