Dr Gary Jenkins, a 54-year-old doctor, died from an 'unsurvivable' brain injury after an alleged attack in Cardiff's Bute Park, an inquest has heard. The father-of-two was found with critical injuries in the early hours of 20 July and died 16 days later in hospital.
Assistant coroner for South Wales Central Rachel Knight recorded the death as unnatural and adjourned the inquest pending a criminal trial. Dr Jenkins, who also worked at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, was taken there after being discovered with severe injuries.
The inquest at Pontypridd Coroners' Court heard that upon arrival, Dr Jenkins had a severe traumatic brain injury, along with facial and multiple head injuries. He underwent a right-sided craniotomy and decompression to treat his injuries.
Coroner's officer Emma Mathias stated: 'Despite full ITU care, his neurological condition deteriorated, and it became apparent that this was an unsurvivable brain injury. He died in intensive care after a transition to palliative care.' A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as 'blunt head injury'.
Three people have been charged with murder: Jason Edwards, 25, of Riverside; Lee William Strickland, 36, of no fixed abode; and a 16-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons. They remain in custody ahead of a pre-trial hearing in October. The inquest was adjourned until the conclusion of the criminal trial, with a review scheduled for 26 May 2022.
