Police Review into Balcony Death of Mark Blanco Gains Momentum

Police are set to investigate the controversial death of Mark Blanco, who tragically fell from a balcony in 2006 following an altercation involving musician Pete Doherty. The case has remained unresolved for nearly two decades, despite the relentless advocacy of Blanco’s mother, Sheila Blanco. The City of London Police is considering bringing in a retired judge to assist in reviewing the circumstances surrounding Blanco’s death, particularly as new evidence has emerged in recent years.

In a recent meeting with Commander Umer Khan of the City of London Police, Sheila Blanco expressed her hope for a thorough examination of the case. “I found the City of London Police to be open and less defensive compared to previous meetings with the Metropolitan Police,” she stated. This renewed interest follows a documentary titled “Pete Doherty: Who Killed My Son?”, which suggested that Mark Blanco was murdered. An analysis by FBI expert Grant Fredericks indicated that Blanco was likely thrown from the balcony, contradicting earlier claims that his death was a suicide.

Blanco, 30, died during a drug-fueled party after being ejected from a flat described as a “crack den.” He returned to the scene shortly before falling to his death. The initial police investigation yielded no charges, with authorities suggesting Blanco’s death was self-inflicted. However, this assertion was dismissed by a coroner during the inquest. Sheila Blanco has long contended that the police neglected crucial evidence, including findings from the documentary that pointed towards foul play.

In her advocacy for justice, Sheila Blanco highlighted the work of several experts. Professor Richard Wassersug conducted a study in 2011 suggesting that Blanco’s head injuries were not consistent with a voluntary jump. Similarly, forensic expert John Kennedy indicated that CCTV footage showed no defensive movements, implying that Blanco may have been pushed rather than having jumped intentionally.

Fredericks, who used advanced forensic techniques to analyze CCTV footage, stated, “The reverse projection clearly shows there couldn’t be just one person on the balcony. What I would see is that Mark has come out and somebody has taken Mark and is putting him over the balcony.” He added that he had requested the Metropolitan Police to perform similar analyses a decade ago, which they failed to undertake.

The incident occurred after a confrontation involving Doherty and his associates, including his then-minder Johnny “Headlock” Jeannevol. Jeannevol initially confessed to police that he had pushed Blanco but later retracted his statement, claiming he was under the influence of drugs at the time. Doherty has consistently denied any involvement in Blanco’s death, although he admitted to fleeing the scene to avoid police scrutiny over drug possession.

Commander Khan stated, “We were asked by the Metropolitan Police to look into carrying out an independent victims’ rights review regarding the death of Mark Blanco in 2006.” An initial scoping meeting has been held, and further information is awaited before making a final decision on the review.

In a statement regarding the ongoing investigation, Scotland Yard confirmed that a Victims’ Right to Review concerning Blanco’s death has been initiated. They emphasized that while this review is ongoing, no further comments will be made publicly. The outcome will be communicated to the individual who requested the review.

As the investigation continues, Sheila Blanco remains hopeful that justice will ultimately be served for her son, whose death has become a focal point for discussions surrounding police accountability and the treatment of unresolved cases.