A woman was arrested for murder after her boyfriend plunged to his death from a tenth floor Birmingham flat, an inquest heard.

But in recording an open verdict, City Coroner Aidan Cotter, said there was no evidence Nicola O'Brien caused Stuart Prosser's death following a drunken argument.

The coroner said the 22-year-old former window cleaner had been alone shortly before he fell from the balcony of the flat he shared with his girlfriend at Kingswood House, Kimpton Close, Druids Heath.

He said it was possible Mr Prosser had stood on the balcony ledge deliberately to scare his girlfriend.

''When you are that age and have been drinking and have argued with your girlfriend you are not always sensible,'' he said.

Detective Sergeant Ian Green, said he had gone to the scene on September 26 and arrested Miss O'Brien. He said there was a broken mirror in a bathroom, smashed into pieces, a broken piece of furniture and earrings on the floor which appeared to have been ripped out.

The officer said Miss O'Brien was interviewed and a decision made there was no case to answer.

Sinead Gough said there had been an incident about one-and-a-half months before when she had twice stopped Mr Prosser trying to jump.

Miss O'Brien said on the evening they had argued and her boyfriend poured part of a bottle of cider over her as well as punching a hole in a wardrobe. She said she went to the bathroom and when she came out he had gone.