DETECTIVES are trying to piece together whether a man found fatally injured on the M4 fell out of or was pushed from a car, we can reveal today.

Constandinos Jones, 23, of Maindee, Newport, was out drinking in Newport city centre shortly before he was discovered beside the motorway at around 12.45am on Friday, August 5, with serious head injuries.

He had visited the Walkabout bar in Bridge Street. Police are trying to find out if he was deliberately pushed from, or fell out of, a white Peugeot 106 he was travelling in with another man.

Police say Mr Jones and the other man were the only ones in the car. Mr Jones was found on the westbound hard shoulder of the M4 near Junction 26, Malpas intersection.

Police were alerted by a motorist travelling on the motorway. Mr Jones was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital but died six days later at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff on Thursday, August 11. Police said Mr Jones' death was not a murder inquiry at this stage although they are treating it as suspicious.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sutton, the officer leading the inquiry, said: "Mr Jones died from head injuries consistent with the impact of falling on the road.

"I can't tell if the victim fell out or was pushed." He is appealing for the public to come forward with more information on Mr Jones' last movements during his night out in Newport to help police "put a picture together."

DCI Sutton said Mr Jones had been drinking at the Walkabout pub in Bridge Street before he was found on the motorway.

He is also appealing for information from anyone who saw the white Peugeot 106 car Mr Jones was travelling in.

An inquest into Mr Jones' death was opened and adjourned at Cardiff coroner's court yesterday pending police inquiries.

His body has been released so that his family can make funeral arrangements.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

A man in his 40s from Newport was arrested in connection with the death of Mr Jones last week, and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.