"Man sprayed with graffiti as he died
by Phil Mills
A man was spray painted as he lay dead or dying on Brighton beach.
His forehead was tagged with the letters "SAW" or "WAS" in black paint and his sand-coloured work boots were also sprayed.
His body was discovered later by a beach walker and police were called.
Tests showed the man died from an overdose of painkillers and police have ruled out crime.
Police released a CD-fit of the man and details of the graffiti for the first time today in the hope they will help them identify him.
Police spokeswoman Sue Heard said the graffiti artists may not have realised the man was dead or alive but unconscious when they sprayed him.
She said: "This may just have been a prank and those responsible may not be in any kind of trouble but it is vital they come forward.
"They just may have seen something near the body that held clues to the man's identity."
Police and coroner's officers have spent weeks trying to find the man's name and where he was from so they can contact relatives.
The body was discovered at 5pm on June 7 in a fenced-off area at Black Rock, close to the Volks Railway station on Madeira Drive.
Police want to speak to anyone who recognises or may have known the man.
He was 30-40, 5ft 11in with receding short wavy dark brown hair.
He had a gold tooth and a tattoo on the right forearm of a rose scroll bearing the word "REBEL".
Coroner's officer Gordon Bushell said: "We hope by releasing this cd-fit someone, somewhere will know who this man is.
"I appeal to anyone who may have not been able to contact their son, father or husband to contact us." "
Article here
Dead man found with tag on his forehead. -
08-02-2004, 08:44 PM
