London–An inquest into the death of Egyptian businessman and alleged double agent Ashraf Marwan has ended without an explanation of the circumstances of his death.
London Coroner William Dolman announced the findings of his investigation on Wednesday, saying that “there are many unanswered questions” that involve the “murky and secretive world of espionage.”
Dolman said there was insufficient evidence to prove both allegations by Marwan’s family that he was murdered, and charges that he committed suicide.
Speaking to the court, Dolman said, “We simply don’t know the facts, despite careful investigation. Did he jump or did he fall? Here the evidence does not provide a clear answer.”
Marwan, 63, fell from the balcony of his fourth-floor flat in Mayfair, one of the most expensive areas in London, in June 2007.
An official investigation into the death was launched after a request by Marwan’s family, who were represented by Anthony Evans QC (Queens Council), one of the most senior lawyers in the UK.
The two-day inquest was held by the Westminster Coroner’s Court which included testimonies from Marwan’s family, friends, business associates, police officers, and the doctors who conducted the autopsy.
Mona Abdel Nasser, Marwan’s widow and daughter of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, said she still believes her husband was murdered.
“He was murdered. I’m sure that there was somebody else involved,” Nasser said speaking outside the Coroner’s Court. “The truth will come out. They are still discovering things about Tutankhamun. How can my husband fall? Never. He was pushed.”
Nasser is convinced her husband was killed because of his memoirs which were lost after his death. According to metropolitan police, Marwan had written a memoir but the transcript disappeared.
In an interview with The Observer last week, Nasser accused the Mossad of killing Marwan, though she refrained from accusing anybody during the hearing.
Israeli historian Ahron Bregman, who also testified at the hearing, had hinted in his 1999 book Israel’s Wars: a History Since 1947 that Marwan was an Egyptian spy who gave Israel information about the 1973 War. Three years later he identified Marwan by name as the spy he was referring to.
President Hosni Mubarak has tried to dismiss rumors over Marwan’s death, stating that he had “carried out patriotic acts, which it is not yet time to reveal.”
