The death of a man who was found in a Gateshead flat following a burglary is no longer being treated as a murder.
Following a post-mortem examination on Friday, police have confirmed that it is "not being treated as a homicide".
At about 2.40am on Friday police received a report that a number of people were trying to force entry to a flat on Eslington Court in Teams to cause harm to the occupants.
Officers arrived at the scene and two men were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries believed to have been sustained in an assault.
Three men, aged 39, 37 and 20, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of burglary. A 39 year-old woman was also later arrested and all four remain in police custody at this time.
A 39-year-old victim had suffered a non-life threatening a head injury and he currently remains in hospital receiving treatment.
The other man, aged 40, reported pain in his shoulder and arm. However, while at hospital he subsequently fell ill, collapsed and passed away.
A post-mortem examination has now established that he did not die from those injuries. Officers are still awaiting toxicology reports to establish the cause of death but say that a report will be prepared for the coroner "in due course".
Northumbria Police’s Superintendent Dave Cole is overseeing the investigation and said the incident is being treated as an “aggravated burglary”.
He said: “We have been supporting the family of the man who passed away and it continues to be a difficult time for them.
“A post-mortem has established that he has not died as a result of the assault and so we won’t be launching a homicide investigation.
“We are treating this incident as an aggravated burglary but we do believe the offenders and the victims are known to one another.
“This has not been a random attack but enquiries are still ongoing to establish exactly what has happened and why.
“We would continue to ask that any witnesses to the incident come forward as we still need to get answers for the family of the victim.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police on 101 quoting log 76 03/01/20 or by calling independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
