Kirsty Maxwell was celebrating a friend’s hen party in Spain with a group of 20 women. She had celebrated her own wedding six months earlier.
On April 29, the 27-year-old plunged to her death from a balcony of a room rented by a group of men she had never met in what is being called a “tragic accident”.
The five occupants – who have been dubbed the ‘Benidorm Five’ by the media – have been questioned by police about the Kirsty’s last moments. They have denied any involvement in her death and have been released without charge.
This week, four of the men – Ricky Gammon, 31, Anthony Holehouse, 34, Callum Northridge, 27 and 32-year-old Daniel Bailey – appeared at a closed hearing after Maxwell’s family urged a Spanish judge to summon them back for questioning.
According to the Nottingham Post, the men would only answer questions from the judge and their own lawyer and refused to respond to the Maxwell family’s legal representative.
In a statement released after their court appearance, the men expressed their “deepest sympathy” to the family.
“This was a tragic accident and we categorically deny any involvement in this unfortunate accident,” the statement said.
“It goes without saying that our deepest sympathy goes out to Kirsty’s family and our thoughts are with them all at this terrible time.
“We have had our names dragged through the mud and used in a derogatory manner throughout this process through no fault of our own.
“The opinion of the judge is that this was an accident.”
Spanish police suspect Kirsty fell from the balcony after drinking too much alcohol after a night out with her friends. Toxicology tests after her death showed she was around five times over the legal Spanish drink-drive limit.
Witness told police Kirsty and her friends returned to her room – on the ninth floor of the building – around 4am on April 29. At around 8am, she walked up a flight of stairs to the apartment directly above.
Friends think she was trying to access the room of one of her friends who was staying on the 10th floor, but knocked on the wrong door.
Joseph Graham – one of the five men staying in the apartment – told police she appeared “mad, drunk or drugged” when she entered the apartment without speaking. He said she tried to climb out of a bathroom window before stepping out onto the apartment’s balcony.
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Moments later, she fell to her death, and the men rushed to call police and emergency services.
But Kirsty’s husband, Adam Maxwell, is convinced his new wife did not die accidentally and has dismissed claims the 27-year-old was suicidal or “on drugs”.
“Something dark happened in that room and I won’t rest until I know the truth,” he said.
“Kirsty was happy, healthy and had everything to live for. It is crazy to suggest she killed herself.
“Only these five men know the answer and I’m amazed that they have been allowed to fly home to the UK after giving contradictory statements.”
The family lawyer has told the court he believes Kirsty feared she was about to be sexually assaulted by the five men before she jumped to her death, “gripped by fear”.
Mr Maxwell is appealing to any and all witnesses and has set up a confidential email address for any witnesses to provide information.