(Image: Family)
The family of a 26-year-old man whose body was found on a North Yorkshire golf course has said questions remain over his death.
A family spokesperson for Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa, who was found dead on Oakdale Golf Course in Harrogate on January 29, said they are “deeply concerned and unconvinced” that the full circumstances into the death were investigated.
It comes after an inquest on Monday (October 5) concluded that Mr Mkutchwa’s death was drug related, with police ruling out any third-party involvement or the death being by suicide.
Mr Mkutchwa’s medical cause of death was given as being from the effects of cocaine. The inquest heard he had taken the Class A drug the day before his death.
After the inquest, North Yorkshire Police reiterated that its investigation found “no evidence of any third-party involvement”.
But Mr Mkutchwa’s family spokesperson claimed there were “significant inconsistencies and unanswered questions in the evidence” presented to the inquest.
They previously said Mr Mkutchwa, known as Donny, was not wearing a jacket and had no phone, wallet or house keys when his body was found.
The inquest heard Mr Mkutchwa’s body was found with cuts to his lip and chin and scratches which he may have obtained by crawling through an area with sharp branches.
However, a pathology report read at the inquest said the injuries did not contribute to Mr Mkutchwa’s death.
The family spokesperson said they were “concerned about the injuries found on Donovan and why the circumstances surrounding those injuries have not, in my view, been sufficiently treated as potentially suspicious”.
“I also have questions about the state in which he was found, including issues surrounding his clothing and personal belongings.”
They added that they have “repeatedly raised concerns about Donovan’s missing phone”, which was not mentioned during the inquest.
“To date, I have not been provided with satisfactory evidence establishing what happened to that phone, whether it was ever recovered, who may have had access to it, or whether all available digital evidence was properly pursued,” they said.
The family spokesperson also said there were “questions surrounding the people who were reportedly with Donovan during his final hours”.
During the inquest, Mr Mkutchwa was described by his partner as being in “good spirits” in the days before his death.
The partner, in a statement read at the inquest, said a friend who was with Mr Mkutchwa the day before his death (January 28) said he had gone with him to run an errand that Mr Mkutchwa said would take “two minutes”.
But the friend said he was still waiting 20 minutes later so left Mr Mkutchwa.
Mr Mkutchwa’s death was verified by paramedics at 9.06am the following morning after his body was found on the golf course by a groundsman.
'I cannot say that I am convinced that we know the full circumstances surrounding Donovan’s death'
Mr Mkutchwa’s family spokesperson said: “I want to understand precisely when he was last seen alive, who was with him, what happened after they separated and whether the accounts provided by those individuals were thoroughly tested against the available physical, digital, financial and CCTV evidence.”
They stressed that they were not “accusing any particular individual of causing [Mr Mkutchwa’s] death”, instead saying: “I do not believe that every reasonable line of enquiry has been satisfactorily exhausted.
“There is an important difference between finding no evidence that another person was involved and conducting an investigation capable of confidently excluding that possibility.
“I respect the role of the coroner and understand that the court can only make findings based upon the admissible evidence placed before it.”
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They added: “I am not asking for speculation, sensationalism or for anybody to be wrongly accused. I am asking for transparency, proper scrutiny of the evidence and credible answers to legitimate questions about how [Mr Mkutchwa] came to die.
“Until those outstanding matters are satisfactorily explained, I cannot say that I am convinced that we know the full circumstances surrounding Donovan’s death.”
Mr Mkutchwa’s family described him as a “deeply loved son, brother and friend whose life was complex but whose character and potential should not be forgotten”.
Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa as a schoolboy (Image: Family)
The family spokesperson said the death of Mr Mkutchwa, who grew up in Harrogate and attended Harrogate Grammar School, has left an “unimaginable void” in the lives of his loved ones.
Mr Mkutchwa's death followed him being released from a four year and 10-month jail sentence which he received in May 2024 after pleading guilty to four drug dealing charges.
Mr Mkutchwa’s family spokesperson said that while Mr Mkutchwa “did have a run-in with the law in recent years”, he had “taken responsibility and paid for those offences through the court system”.
They said the family believe Mr Mkutchwa “was in a period of reflection and was working toward reshaping and rebuilding his life” before his death.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Mr Mkutchwa’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
“Our investigation into Mr Mkutchwa’s death found no evidence of any third-party involvement. The findings were submitted to the coroner, who has now concluded their inquest and recorded their findings.
“Anyone who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a police investigation has the right to make a complaint. Details of how to do this can be found on our website."