POLICE are weighing up whether to launch a murder inquiry several months after a man died from a brain injury that stemmed from a savage baseball attack in Southwick 11 years ago. 

Paul Mills, 44, of Westlands, Heytesbury, was found dead on his bathroom floor by emergency services on March 2 after suffering post traumatic epilepsy.

Nearly 11 years on from the attack on Mr Mills in a lay-by, which left him with a fractured skull, bruising on the brain, a fractured eye socket and unable to speak for two weeks, a post mortem by pathologist Dr Deborah Cook revealed that the seizures he went on to suffer could have led to his death.

Because of the post mortem result, Wiltshire Coroner David Ridley, who opened and then adjourned an inquest on June 12, has referred the case back to the police.

However the force would not confirm if a murder inquiry had begun. A spokesman for Wiltshire police said: “Wiltshire police is working closely with the coroner to gather further information as part of an investigation into this case.

“The general procedure for this case would be the same for any other investigation, case or alleged crime the police look into.

“This one has a historic factor to it but we will treat it like any other. We are working with the Crown Prosecution Service and a file of evidence will be submitted as soon as possible.”

DCI Jim Taylor is leading the investigation, which also involves looking into whether or not police can arrest someone for homicide so long after the original injuryhappened. 

In March 2008, Neil Sutherland, then 24 and of Horton Street, Frome, admitted causing grievous bodily harm at Swindon Crown Court and the then 24-year-old got four years’ jail.

His father James Sutherland, then 50 and of Wynsome Street, Southwick, got a suspended sentence for assisting an offender. 

Mr Mills, who was left in a coma after the attack, suffered epileptic seizures in the ambulance on the way to hospital, a condition he had for the rest of his life. 

According to a former neighbour in Francis Street, Trowbridge, Mr Mills was later involved in an incident in which a TV was thrown out of the window of his flat.

In 2009 he was evicted by Selwood Housing after he threatened his neighbours. 

A Heytesbury neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “He kept himself to himself but he always greeted you and was pleasant. He took a liking to my French bulldog Spud. It was sad to hear he died.”