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The mother of a British tourist who died at a Spanish resort has criticised the police, saying they care more about protecting the reputation and not catching the killers.
Brett Dryden (35), a County Durham father with one child, was found dead last July in Mojacar. Almeria. His apartment had been slashed on the head.
The police initially informed the family that Brett died of a blood clot in his lungs, after hitting his head and falling.
But a recently obtained autopsy contradicted this version of events, revealing that ‘there were significant marks on the body to indicate a physical struggle.’
READ MORE EXCLUSIVE: ‘They tried to make it as difficult as possible for us’: Family of ‘murdered’ Brit set to protest police inaction in Spanish holiday town
Now, Brett’s mother, Sarah Adams, has told the Olive Press she’s ‘disgusted and just absolutely so angry’ at the ‘sloppy work’ – and attitude – of the Guardia Civil in investigating his death.
The 56-year old fumed, “They’d rather bury the body and claim that it was accidental death to maintain the good reputation of the town.”
Sarah explained, “We flew there as soon as we got the news. But it took us about five days to get in touch with them.”
“They said it was a terrible incident, and he’d had a lung embolism that led him to fall, banging his heads.
When we were on the road, [the police] They rushed us to get cremation in Spain. Even his friends were allowed to walk through the crime scenes not once, but twice.
“They actually closed this case. A judge ordered that it be reopened, and the investigation was done correctly only when I pointed to Brett’s phone.
READ MORE British family demand answers over ‘murder’ of expat dad at his seaside home in Spain’s Andalucia
We’ve just returned from Spain, after obtaining the autopsy report. It was quite a struggle to obtain. It also states that signs of a robbery, and a fight in his villa.
It’s now nine months since Brett’s death and ‘we’ve still had no contact from [the Guardia Civil],’ Sandra added.
We only want them to be cooperative and to speak with us to give us an up-to-date. I want to be sure that they are doing something.
The family is now requesting a permit to protest outside of the town hall in order to express their anger at the police’s failures to act on Dylan’s behalf.
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Brett had moved from Mojacar to Mojacar to establish a legal marijuana club in 2019. Sandra said, “I’ve always been against it. I don’t understand why he moved. It’s something he just wanted to do.”
“But he started this cannabis club, which became a small community. He made many friends and received a lot support from people in Mojacar of all ages and nationalities.
It is amazing who he knew.
When he did not return from a nap, friends found him dead.
His Gucci sunglasses, savings and phone have been found missing, adding to his family’s suspicions.
READ MORE A 20-year-old drugged driver slams his car into a group of cyclists in Spain’s Costa Blanca. The father was killed, and the son, 14 years old, hospitalised.
Sandra is convinced that his phone made a silent call to her after he passed away, and she believes that it was stolen.
The senior care worker said Brett’s friends found him ‘covered in blood’ and that police told them it had been a ‘violent death’ and that he may have been ‘hit with an axe’ – before changing their story.
She added, “There were handprints all over the wall and blood on his apartment.”
According to neighbours, three men fled the scene at the same time.
Sandra claims that she wasn’t even told about the 4x5cm head gash, which she discovered only after seeing his corpse at the crematorium.
I believe with all my heart that Brett knew who his killers.
