Father of bruised Briton found dead in Venice canal insists his son wouldn't commit suicide

Richard Raynor's father's assertion was proved right through a post-mortem examination which revealed his 23-year-old son, who vanished after dinner with his girlfriend and was found beneath a bridge four days later, had drowned and there was no evidence of foul play or suicide.

But the scientific explanation of Mr Raynor's death failed to end the intrigue surrounding the incident, particularly as there was no explanation of why, if he had fallen into the icy water and drowned, his wallet, mobile phone, passport and hotel key were found in a neat pile on a nearby parapet?

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Mr Raynor became separated from his girlfriend Katie Robinson, 22, after they enjoyed a meal and a "couple of bottles of wine" together at the start of a planned three-day break to celebrate their first anniversary. Miss Robinson told police she returned to their hotel in a taxi but her boyfriend never showed up.

He left a message on her mobile phone at 1 am saying he was "lost in nowhere."

Police now believe he fell by accident into the water while walking back to the hotel.

Initially the discovery of his body on Sunday appeared to support the explanation that he had committed suicide after a lover's tiff.

So did the finding of his personal possessions and valuables on dry land 100 yards from where the body was later spotted.

However, his parents have insisted he was a "happy", "fun" and "level headed" man who would not have killed himself.

"Richard never behaved strangely. He was a happy boy," said his father William, who identified his son's body. And a statement from the Italian Police last night also concluded his death was an accident.

A police spokeswoman said: "The post mortem examination has taken place and shows he died of drowning. It appears to be an accident. There are no signs of it being a crime or that he hurt himself."

The third possible explanation - foul play - has been ruled out by the post-mortem findings.

Mr Raynor, a computer software engineer from Worksop, disappeared on Wednesday evening when Miss Robinson went looking for a taxi. They are understood to have disagreed over whether to go back to the hotel as Miss Robinson wanted, or to go for another drink.

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Miss Robinson, a forensic science student, told police she assumed he had gone off for a nightcap and took the taxi back without him.

She said he then phoned her to ask where she was and told her he would follow in another taxi. But he never turned up at the Ariston Hotel on the mainland at Mestre.

On Valentine's Day, the next morning, she picked up a message on her mobile left by him at 1 am saying he was lost.

She went looking for him and repeatedly rang his mobile without success until it was answered by her hotel porter at 11.30 am after an elderly couple had handed in his valuables.

Miss Robinson reported him missing to police and still hoped he would turn up when she went to catch her booked flight on Friday evening.

While she returned home anyway to care for her three-year-old son from a previous relationship, her boyfriend's father flew out to help in the search.

Miss Robinson was said to be back home in Retford, Notts, yesterday but too upset to comment.

Neighbours said the couple were planning to set up home together. Alan Dye, 67, said: "I knew she was going out with a lad called Richard. He was a nice lad who used to park his car outside my house when he visited here.

"Katie is a really nice girl, and she and Richard always seemed very happy together. I think they were planning to live together in Doncaster."

Another neighbour said: "They seemed a perfect, doting couple - always happy, smiling and laughing together."

Mr Raynor's parents and his girlfriend released a statement through Nottinghamshire Police in which they said:"We would like to be left alone at this difficult time. We thank everyone for their concern and condolences and thank Italian police and the British consulate for the publicity and support in Venice."

Before his body was found police also said suicide appeared unlikely as Mr Raynor had been described by friends and family as "a normal guy who never showed any signs of depression".

A police spokesman added:"We will provide any assistance required to the Italian authorities if asked to do so, but so far no request has been made."