Nottingham asylum seeker fell from balcony 'after taunts' Published duration 5 October 2011

A failed asylum seeker fell from the seventh floor of a Nottingham tower block after being taunted by a crowd of people, an inquest has heard.

Osman Rasul Mohammed, 27, an Iraqi Kurd, had been in Britain for almost 10 years when an application to stay in the country was rejected.

The inquest in Nottingham heard he climbed on to the railing of a balcony in a distressed state in 2010.

Coroner Maureen Casey said a "baying" crowd below called on him to jump.

The inquest heard Mr Mohammed died at Clifford Court in Radford on 25 July last year after he became very distressed about his immigration status.

'Horrific scene'

Mr Mohammed had originally applied for political asylum but that failed because he could not prove he had a legal right to stay.

His second attempt to stay was based on his children, who have British citizenship, but this also failed.

Friends said that in the weeks before his death he had tried to discuss his case with immigration officials. He had also heard his legal funding was going to be cut.

The inquest at Nottingham's Council House heard Mr Mohammed had cannabis in his system and appeared to be praying while on the balcony.

A neighbour and police spent more than two hours trying to persuade him to get help but he suddenly fell as taunts were shouted from below.

The Nottingham coroner said it was "an horrific scene with a crowd baying for the vulnerable man to jump".

Miss Casey said she could not record a verdict of suicide because it could not be proven he had jumped to his death.

But she said the issues over his legal status were not for the inquest hearing.

She recorded an open verdict.