AN ALCOHOLIC died after suffering a traumatic brain injury following a fall down stairs in a Westbourne flat, an inquest heard.

Lithuanian national Jevgenij Pisciuliov, 32, was found unconscious in the communal stairwell of flats in Poole Road on September 22 last year.

A murder probe was launched and flat resident Anthony Ing was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.

The inquest heard that Mr Pisciuliov and his brother Vitalij had spent the morning drinking beer and vodka with Mr Ing.

Mr Ing said he had asked the pair to leave his flat but Mr Pisciuliov was reluctant.

“I did pick him up and escort him towards the front door. I opened the door to make him leave. I didn’t push him, just guided him out and shut the door,” he said.

“I heard what I thought was someone being really petulant because I wouldn’t let them stay. It turns out he fell down the stairs because there he was laid out on the landing.”

Mr Ing said he assumed Mr Pisciuliov had fallen.

Former heroin addict Mr Pisciuliov was discovered by another neighbour and taken to hospital. He died later that day.

Vitalij Pisciuliov told the inquest that his brother was so drunk he “just couldn’t walk” from the flat.

Home Office pathologist Hugh White said Mr Pisciuliov had died from a subdural haemorrhage and it was “more likely” the injury was the result of a heavy fall down the stairs.

He said Mr Pisciuliov‘s blood alcohol reading was more than three and a half times the legal limit for driving a vehicle.

Ruling an accidental death verdict, assistant deputy coroner Richard Middleton said alcohol was the main contributory factor.

“Mr Pisciuliov appears to have fallen striking his head causing a traumatic brain injury from which he died,” he added.