Cause of diplomat’s death yet to be established after body was found in Hampshire forest, inquest told

Initial investigations into the death of a diplomat have yet to establish how he died after his body was found in a Hampshire forest, an inquest has heard.

Former ambassador to Nepal, Richard Morris, was last seen running in an area near his home in Bentley on May 6.

After he was reported missing, weeks of searches led to the discovery of a body in Alice Holt Forest on August 31.

A post-mortem examination carried out on the body of the 52-year-old gave a medical cause of death as “unascertained”, senior coroner for Hampshire Christopher Wilkinson said on Wednesday.

During a four-minute remote hearing, Mr Wilkinson confirmed Mr Morris was found dead by a member of the public.

Mr Wilkinson said consultant forensic pathologist Dr Russell Delaney carried out the initial examination on the body, adding: “The nature of his death is at this stage unascertained.”

The inquest was adjourned until June 2021 for further evidence to be gathered.

A family statement released at the time of his death described Mr Morris as “funny, kind and smart”.

It added: “Above all else, Richard was a family man. A loving and loyal husband, father, son and brother.

“He showed us the world but he was our world and we are devastated by his loss.”

Mr Morris was the ambassador to Nepal between 2015 and November 2019 and accompanied the Duke of Sussex during his tour of the country in 2016.

Before that he was head of the Pacific department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has held senior diplomatic posts including in Australia and Mexico during nearly 30 years’ service.

At the time of the discovery of his body, police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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