Chef found dead in bed after altercation in Dublin died from head injury

A hotel chef found dead in his bed after being involved in an altercation on a street in Dublin city centre last year died from a head injury, an inquest has heard.

James Kailedzi (31), who came originally from Malawi, was pronounced dead at his home on Hatch Street, Dublin 2 on March 25, 2023.

An inquest into Mr Kailedzi’s death which opened at Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard the results of a postmortem showed he died as a result of a “traumatic blunt force head injury.”

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It is understood the deceased may have suffered the fatal head wound after falling to the ground during the incident in the early hours of March 24, 2023. Although Mr Kailedzi managed to get up and walk home, he was found dead in his bed by his friends sometime later.

Gardaí subsequently issued a public appeal for anyone who had been in the area of Coppinger Row and South William Street between 1.15am and 2.30am on March 24, 2023 who may have witnessed an altercation between a number of males. It is understood that the deceased had been out in Dublin city centre socialising with other friends from Malawi.

Two men – aged in their 20s and 30s – were arrested by gardaí as part of their investigation into Mr Kailedzi’s death but they were later released without charge. Detective Inspector Katherina Joyce applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings were being considered in the case.

A solicitor for Mr Kailedzi’s family said the deceased’s relatives had no objection to the application. Det Insp Joyce informed the coroner, Aisling Gannon, that a file on the Garda investigation into Mr Kailedzi’s death was with the DPP.

The deceased’s brother, Charles Odilo, who lives in Co Meath, gave evidence of formally identifying his brother’s body to gardaí at Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall. Ms Gannon granted the application and adjourned the case for mention until December 10.

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