A CORONER will be calling on police and civic chiefs to improve communication systems after a fatal brawl near a number of Southampton nightclubs.

Concluding a four-day inquest into the death of Southampton father Jason Gregory, senior coroner Grahame Short said: “Door supervisors should have a system in place to deal with incidents more quickly.”

As previously reported, the 44-year-old, of Millers Pond Gardens, Sholing, died in hospital four days after the fight broke out near the Junk nightclub in the early hours of May 6, 2017.

He suffered irreversible brain damage as a result of his heart stopping during the incident in Vernon Walk.

Daily Echo:

Delivering a narrative conclusion, Mr Short said he would be writing a ‘prevention of future deaths’ report after Winchester Coroner’s Court yesterday heard from Jema Paull, director of Synergy Security which employed the bouncers involved. Ms Paull said before the incident police monitored radio traffic between door security and that ensured quick response.

In response, Mr Short said he would be writing a report to both Hampshire police and Southampton City Council “to ask about methods of communication to alert police to incidents which may require urgent attendance”.

Mr Short also ruled that Mr Gregory, had been restrained with an arm around his neck by Tokyo Bar door supervisor Thomas Humpherson, although he said he did not find it proved beyond reasonable doubt – the level necessary in a criminal court.

He added: “I don’t believe Mr Humpherson did this intentionally.”

The inquest had previously heard a number of bouncers deny they had restrained Mr Gregory in a “head lock” or “choke hold”, as alleged by some witnesses.

Daily Echo:

Mr Short said he accepted the findings of Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Basil Purdue who said there were a number of factors that contributed to Mr Gregory’s heart stopping, including the fact that he had taken cocaine earlier that night, making his heart susceptible to abnormal rhythms.

As previously reported, Hampshire police had launched an investigation into Mr Gregory’s death, with two men being arrested. The investigation was dropped in July last year, with no criminal charges being brought against the unidentified pair.

Following the inquest, Hampshire police confirmed they would not be reopening their investigation.