IN MEMORY OF LEON BENDALL AGE JUST 41. PLEASE READ ALL XXXXX

Hello all. My name is Louisa and I sit beside my sister Leonie. Our truly beautiful brother passed away on (he's Death Certificate 9/8/2024) but we had not heard from him in 4days. Leon had 3 beautiful Children. Lilly-May, Daisy and a son Harry who he adored so much. My Sister thought he was busy but my mum who lives in Southern Ireland knew it was strange. All day my sister had waited outside he's flat as he had Elvis the dog. Elvis is actually Leonies dog but her son as quite a bad case of Autism and always said " Bye Elvis Leons" A excellent guard dog my brother and Elvis became inseparable, best friends who he walked for hours a day. This gave him the time he needed for long walks, and Leon never wanted him to go home. Due to Leonie looking through the letterbox and smelling a awful smell she and my mum on a phone call decided she call the Police. (I Live in Worcester and Leonie and Leon live in Manchester Rochdale) The police came and she explained the last they heard was on the 5th August or the 4th. The Police had a 2 and half hour breaking down the door due to it being safety doors. Only when the concrete started to go they could finally get in. Leonie ran and got the dog from the hall and took him to the car. I can not imagine what she went through when she got back to the flat. My beautiful darling brother had passed. My mum being on facetime to Leonie whilst this took place. Shocked and not believing them she said she wanted to see him. The Police Sergant lady said please remember your brother as he was. All he's windows were shut and we had 2 boiling hot days and warm days. The Coroner said some people start to - I don't know how to say the the words as tears stream down our faces I think decompose more quickly than others. Plus being hot and no windows open. Heartbreaking. The dog had had lucky 2 bowls of water and drank from toilet. Leon had been shopping and thankfully he could eat he's biscuits. My mums only Son. Words can not describe the pain, the sadness, the shock we were all in. But for my mum Leon had always been he's mummy's boy,and he's Dad's who sadly passed away at a young age of 57. Just turned 57. Leon missed he's Dad so much. He was also a Daddy's boy. He needed help he was dyslexic but we were always there to help him.

We are raising the money due to Universal Credit Social refused to pay for the Funeral due to Leonie being put down as he's next of kin. They said my Mum should. But as my Mum ill herself stated she lived abroad. And Leonie was put down due to the circumstances. I will copy the letter in here for you to see. The day before the Funeral as no payment had been made the Funeral Parlour was not going to give Leon he's Funeral. She needed the £875.00 first and then to sort the rest out on appeal. So many people helped out lending us the £875 who we will pay back plus we need to find £2000 pound for the rest of the funeral. Now for the next part Leon's wish was always for he's ashes to be placed with my Dad's in Worcester. We wanted to do a fund to hire a mini bus to bring he's 3 beautiful children, there Mum who he got on with so well even after they split. There were other members of Leon's Children side who loved Leon so much. My mum is also struggling very much to get another flight over. She had to go back to Ireland due to tests on her Lungs and her loving Partner Dave who is having tests for Bowel Cancer. My Sister Leonie will have her car but only 2 spare seats. We are desperate to give Leon and all he's family a celebration of life. He's friends live in Worcester and we have to pay for Leon's Ashes and a small service to honour Leon with prayers and he's short life. It was far to expensive to have Leon bought to Worcester. My sister received a letter from the council to say he had been over paid Council Tax as he lay Passed away. I will show this letter also so another nearly £100 pound at to be found and borrowed again even thoe that was paid for Leon through Benefits. Due to not affording a Wake which is so sad we wish to give him one where we will do our own food to save funds and hopefully a Public House will benefit from the people who come. We could not afford a Plaque, headstone around the garden of remberance for my lovely Dad. We take 26 Steps foot to foot to find he's resting place. My Mum will be so sad so we hope to get a Plaque or what they have so Leon's resting place is known. I will also add a photo on here. Please let me share such a sad story. Leon had all neighbours he got on with. And on a Sunday he would go and pray with the family who lived below him. However he had a neighbour who lived opposite him who is a Alcoholic and sometimes nice and sometimes wicked. He usually apologised but downstairs and basically the whole block was quite scared of him due to he's temper and also all night music on he's balcony. Drinking and smoking Cannabis. 6 to 7 weeks prior to Leon's passing he's neighbour was drunk waiting downstairs for prey. Leon got Elvis ready for he's walk and whilst he got to the bottom he was hit so hard with a golfclub over he's head missing he's temple by mm. He would of died if he had been hit there. Leon was knocked out and blows hit him breaking he's arm, smashing he's face and finally repeatedly hit across he's back where the Golf Club broke in 2. The neighbours were screaming and phoned the Police and a Ambulance. Leon was rushed to hospital with severe blood loss and severe injuries leaving a 10inch scar on he's head that the skull was showing and little chip broken on skull. I only have a couple of pictures as it breaks our hearts to see him. He's neighbour covered in blood with the weapon was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was bailed to stay away from the flat and no where near Leon. Witnesses told the Police what happened and he had been pacing in and out the flat looking for anyone. We can not believe he did it. After this my mum looking after him and my sister and neighbours bringing food for him the neighbours charges was dropped from a Section 1 to a section 18. We were furious. He's next Court appearance he was bailed again with the same conditions. When Leon passed God Bless him my mum read messages on he's phone. What we read was just Heartbreaking,Leon was so so scared he's neighbour would come after him. He kept trying the Police who gave him no victim support or help whats so ever. Leon was terrified, panic attacks and he must tried to put a brave face on for us. We has found out the Police had lied on Several Occasions telling Leon she was away for 2 weeks and will be in touch when back but she was working that whole time and she told ne the exact same thing. When I phoned she answered. Speaking to her higher up Detective he started stuttering when I told him and said we had to call her in due to another unexplained death. The inspector eventually got in touch and said she had done nothing wrong but is now off the case. Then 9 hours after Leon's Passing when he had been found he's neighbour was bought back with witnesses in disbelief. Whilst speaking to the police about this they denied it. Then a utter big bomb shell. They said they do not no if the case will now be dropped due to Leon will not be able to give evidence. I said a crime is a crime. A murderer is still put on trial. I said the whole block gave you statements and Leon's injuries with he's neighbour admitting it the next day and the weapon covered in Leon's Blood but they do not think they have a case. My mum walked in a daze not knowing where she is what's happened with he's neighbour and he's neighbour was still on bail from a Judge but he's daughter wanted him out and so did her neighbours. Whilst doing such a sad hard task at clearing out Leon's lovely flat that neighbour was singing Back for good by take that. My poor mum. Hes friends so angry kept there composure for Leon and my Mum. We intend to take the police who lied and evidence and he's neighbour being back in the flat we need to get a solicitor who can help. The Coroner could not find the cause of Leon's Passing and we will now have to wait for Toxicology Results and a inquest. I will add a photo from the Coroner. He even held he's body back to conduct more tests. If you knew Leon he was so jolly. New everyone, waved at everyone and had a amazing sense of humour. He was far too young to go. We have filled a ocean with our tears and for my mum who loved him so so so much we cry for her too. He worried so much about my mum. Christmas he loved as he always went to my mums. My mum keeps saying I only have Christmas for Leon. Please we have never done this before. But please help us hire a mini bus to fulfill Leon's wishes. We do not want him just left until we have finally got some money. Please help to bring my mum back to England for the ashes. Please help us pay the people money back who kindly lent it for Leon's funeral. Please help towards the Funeral costs. Please help with a Plaque so we don't have to count Steps. Please help with us getting support from a Solicitor for saying the CPS will probably drop it. We are broken as a family.Days have gone by in a daze. The Love and friends Leon had was amazing. He was a true legend. So loving and so caring. He's Children is in disbelief they lost there beautiful caring loving Daddy. He's brave son 14 years old carried the coffin with family and friends queuing up incase someone did not help. Please help us. Everyone loved Leon. And we wish so hard to give him the celebration of life with our Dad's ashes. We will forever be grateful and so thankful if you could please help us.