A coroner has opened an inquest into the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, placing the circumstances of his death under formal investigation while police say there is no indication of suspicious activity.

Arday, 41, was found unresponsive by family members at his Battersea home in south London on August 14. Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris said reports gave him reason to suspect an “unnatural death” and therefore required an investigation.¹ The Metropolitan Police, however, confirmed that the scene was not suspicious, and the inquest was adjourned until a later date.²

The accounts converge on the basic facts but differ in emphasis. Coverage sympathetic to Arday’s family foregrounded the coroner’s wording, the family’s grief and criticism of the scrutiny he faced after allegations of plagiarism. Other reporting focused more directly on his resignation from Cambridge and the allegations that preceded it, while also noting the family’s fundraising campaign and plans to publish his memoir.

Arday resigned as Cambridge’s professor of sociology of education earlier this month. He denied plagiarism allegations, and a Liverpool John Moores University investigation upheld its decision to award him a PhD. In his resignation statement, he said “relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary” had taken a profound toll on him and those he loved.² His family later described a “campaign of misinformation” and asked the press to stop what it called a campaign of harassment.²

At the hearing, Morris urged journalists to be “mindful of your reporting” and to consider the impact on Arday’s family and the public.² A separate report highlighted the family’s statement that they were “deeply moved by the extraordinary support” shown through a fundraiser that raised more than £224,000.³

Arday’s memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, is due to be published as planned, with his family saying it was right to honour his wishes. The inquest will resume after further investigations are completed.

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1. Prof Jason Arday found 'unresponsive by family in unnatural death', inquest told — The coroner said reports gave him reason to suspect an “unnatural death” and opened an investigation..

2. Inquest opens into death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday — Police said the scene was not suspicious; Arday’s resignation statement cited “relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary”..

3. Jason Arday death inquest opens — Arday’s family said they were “deeply moved by the extraordinary support” after the fundraiser exceeded £224,000..