London coroner to review tourist's death in Dubai

A London coroner has opened an inquest into the Dubai death of British tourist Lee Brown.

A London coroner has opened an inquest into the death of a British tourist at the Bur Dubai Police Station last month, according to the man's family.

The coroner has requested all video footage from the police station; the Burj al Arab, where Lee Brown, 39, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a hotel staff member; and a shop that he visited, according to his brother, Steve Brown, and sister-in-law, Susanne Brown. The inquest, which officially opened on May 5, also asks for copies of two post-mortem examination reports, including photographs, and photos of Brown's body in the cell.

"We are also hoping to get the witness statements from the police officers involved and the maid in the Burj, along with all the other staff and waiters who were involved - at least seven as far as we are aware have been identified," they wrote in an e-mail to The National.

Brown was arrested at the hotel on April 6 and was found dead in his cell on April 12.

His family has said they believe he was beaten by police. Post-mortem examinations by Dubai Police and Dubai Public Prosecution determined that he died after choking on his own vomit. A third examination in the UK took place on May 3, but no results have been released yet.