Detectives investigating the mystery stabbing of a Teesside solicitor said they investigated whether he was targeted by a killer, was the victim of a random attack or inflicted the fatal injuries himself, an inquest has heard.
Jogger Peter Maine, 56, was found while he went for a run along the River Wear after parking in Durham city centre on a Sunday morning in September 2013.
An inquest in Crook, County Durham, heard Mr Maine, from Wynyard, was to be prosecuted on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. He was also under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority following a complaint by a client.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chapman, who led the inquiry into the married father-of-two’s death, said officers looked at 65 people who may have had recent contact with Mr Maine and may have had reason to want to harm him.
But those investigations drew a blank.
Robbery was ruled out as a motive as he was found with his Rolex watch, wallet and keys.
Coroner Andrew Tweddle asked: “It is fair to say, there is not anybody who might be of interest to you, or might be considered a potential suspect, being involved directly or indirectly.”
Mr Chapman agreed, saying: “My initial hypothesis was it was murder and it was planned, murder and it was unplanned, or it was suicide.”
Police managed to trace all but two people seen walking or running in the area of the Wear between 7.30am and 8.30am that day. Neither of the two outstanding people were of particular concern to police, Mr Chapman said.
They also searched the Wear and its banks for the weapon used to stab Mr Maine.
The three-month search of the water cost £30,000.
None of the six knives found in the general area were believed to have been the one used to inflict the fatal injuries, the inquest heard.
Forensic pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton told the hearing two of the three wounds went through the heart. All were closely grouped.
But that did not mean Mr Maine would have collapsed immediately upon being stabbed, as some people can continue to move purposefully for up to 20 minutes afterwards, the court heard.
Mr Maine’s body was found near Maiden Castle sports centre, around 40m from the site of significant blood drops in the middle of a bridge over the Wear.
Dr Bolton said there were no signs of any defence injuries often seen on a stabbing victim.
Mr Maine had left the family home on the wealthy Wynyard estate, taken his Range Rover up the A1M to Durham and visited his former offices on Old Elvet, which were to be made into student lets.
CCTV showed him jogging from the property along the river bank and he was last spotted on camera alive at 7.42am.
A member of the public called the emergency services at 8.01am.
The inquest continues this afternoon when Mr Maine’s widow Joanna will give evidence.
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