Mystery as dead body discovered in car park

A POST mortem was set to be carried out today on the body of a man found dead in the car park at a hotel off the Royal Mile.

The man, who was in his early 30s, was discovered lying dead on the ground in the car park at the Travelodge Hotel on St Mary’s Street. His death is being treated as “unexplained”.

Police said they were still working to identify the man, whose body was found at around 9.45am yesterday and later removed to the city mortuary just a hundred yards away.

It is understood that the man was not a guest at the hotel.

The entrance to the car park on the Cowgate was cordoned off by police, who took the details of anyone coming to collect their vehicle. Forensic experts also conducted an examination of the scene.

Bosses at Travelodge would not comment on the grim find, but said that staff were helping police with their investigation.

Naseem Aslam, a shopkeeper on the Cowgate, said: “When I arrived for work at about 11am there were lots of police cars there. Some of my customers came in and told me a body had been found there.

“A woman who works at the mortuary up the street said that the police were treating it as unexplained.”

He added: “The car park is used by people staying at the hotel but other people can park there too.”

Another shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said: “Some people are saying it might have been a drug addict who has taken an overdose. There are a lot of homeless shelters in this area.”

A Travelodge spokeswoman said: “We are unable to comment on the ongoing investigation, but we are assisting police with their inquiries.”

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to St Mary’s Street at around 9.45am following the discovery of a man’s body within a car park.

“Officers are currently at an early stage in their inquiries, and the man’s death is being treated as unexplained. Anyone with any information that can assist our inquiries should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131.”

Last September, a man was found dead in a close next to the World’s End pub in what was believed to be a drug-related death.

The victim was slumped on a boundary wall in World’s End Close, off the High Street, said to be a hotspot for drug taking.