A coroner has recorded an open conclusion into the death of Eglė Vengalienė, whose body was found in a lake in Brandon in April 2021.

Mrs Vengalienė's husband, Andrius Vengalis, was originally arrested for her death, but was later released without charge.

In summation of his evidence, senior coroner Parsley considered the possibilities that Mrs Vengalienė had come by her death as the result of an unlawful killing, suicidal intentions or as the result of an accident.

In his summation of the evidence, he reminded the court that the police had been called to Brandon Country Park, where Mrs Vengalienė’s body was found, just one hour previously.

The care home staff at Brandon Park care home had called police after a woman believed to be Mrs Vengalienė had tapped on a window, asking for help. The woman was “wet and shivering”, but fled the scene once she realised police had been called.

A police officer attended the scene at 5.44am on the morning of April 9, but found area to be quiet and still. Mrs Vengalienė’s body was found by her husband just one hour later.

Mr Parsley said that there was there was not enough evidence to suggest that Mrs Vengalienė had been murdered by her husband, who briefly spoke to his neighbour Luke Strutt between 6.10am and 6.15am, or by anyone else.

He heard from an expert witness Michael Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth.

Professor Tipton said that it was rare for people to use drowning as a means of suicide in such shallow bodies of water. However, he also said that it was unlikely that Mrs Vengalienė was in a state of hypothermia and confused enough to enter the water intending to take her own life, given that she was observed by the care home staff moving about and speaking coherently so soon before her body was discovered.

Mr Parsley consulted with two home office pathologists, David Swift and Ben Swift. Both agreed that the evidence of pathology alone could not explain as to whether Mrs Vengalienė drowned a result of an unlawful killing, suicidal intention or by an accident.

Mr Parsley therefore recorded Mrs Vengalienė’s cause of death as drowning, and delivered an open conclusion as to how she came by her death.

He once again extended his condolence to Mrs Vengalienė's family.