ANGUELOVA v. BULGARIA JUDGMENT 25 him at about 5 a.m. (see paragraph 39 above); and that the detention records were tampered with (see paragraphs 41-46 above) and that Mr Zabchekov was registered post factum as an “unidentified person” although he had been well known to the police officers as a suspect on theft charges and had been recognised by them at the very moment of their encounter (see paragraphs 25, 42 and 96-98 above). These facts were important indications that required thorough investigation; such an investigation was not undertaken. 121. Having regard to all the relevant circumstances, the Court thus finds implausible the Government's explanation of Mr Zabchekov's death, which was based on the conclusion of the second forensic report as to the timing of the injury and a supposition that the boy might have injured himself by falling to the ground. The Government have not offered any other explanation. 122. Accordingly, there has been a violation of Article 2 of the Convention. B. The alleged failure to provide timely medical care 1. The parties' submissions 123. The applicant alleged that, although the police officers had seen the boy shivering and shaking, they had considerably delayed medical intervention through a series of suspect acts between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. In the applicant's view, the most likely explanation was that there had been an attempt to avoid contact between Mr Zabchekov and an independent doctor who might have revealed evidence of ill-treatment. Alternatively, there had been a reckless disregard for the well-being of a detainee. In either case the delay had been fatal. 124. The Government maintained that the police could not be held responsible for not having realised that Mr Zabchekov had been in need of urgent medical attention. When the police officers had first seen him it had been dark. Furthermore, he had been drunk, there had been dirt all over his body and his hair had covered the bruise over his left eyebrow. Mr Zabchekov's condition had been interpreted as symptomatic of the effects of alcohol. He had never complained of an ailment. The fact that no signs of any major problems had been apparent during the lucid interval had been confirmed by the medical experts. 2. The Court's assessment 125. The Court, referring to its findings as regards the suspect conduct of the police (see paragraph 120 above), observes that they delayed the