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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Whitear probe 'miserable failure' | Whitear probe 'miserable failure' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The mother of a student who died from a heroin overdose has called the police investigation a "miserable failure". | The mother of a student who died from a heroin overdose has called the police investigation a "miserable failure". |
| Rachel Whitear's mother Pauline said she wanted a "full apology" from Devon and Cornwall Police. | Rachel Whitear's mother Pauline said she wanted a "full apology" from Devon and Cornwall Police. |
| An Independent Police Complaints Commission report criticised the force's handling of the investigation. | An Independent Police Complaints Commission report criticised the force's handling of the investigation. |
| It alleged there were lax procedures after her body was found in an Exmouth bedsit and criticised the decision not to hold a post-mortem examination. | It alleged there were lax procedures after her body was found in an Exmouth bedsit and criticised the decision not to hold a post-mortem examination. |
| Wiltshire Police report in full (181K) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here | |
| "The pathologist stated he did not take a post-mortem because of Rachel's potential HIV status," Rachel's mother said. | "The pathologist stated he did not take a post-mortem because of Rachel's potential HIV status," Rachel's mother said. |
| "Why was this allowed to be an excuse not to carry out this vital examination that could have confirmed to us how Rachel died and if foul play was involved?" | "Why was this allowed to be an excuse not to carry out this vital examination that could have confirmed to us how Rachel died and if foul play was involved?" |
| Rachel, 21, from Herefordshire, died of a heroin overdose in 2000. | Rachel, 21, from Herefordshire, died of a heroin overdose in 2000. |
| The investigation by Wiltshire Police into the Devon and Cornwall force's handling of Rachel's death found that potential lines of inquiry were not pursued. | The investigation by Wiltshire Police into the Devon and Cornwall force's handling of Rachel's death found that potential lines of inquiry were not pursued. |
| We will never know whether Rachel was alone when she died Pauline and Mick Holcroft, Rachel's parents One involved a missing tobacco tin which potentially indicated someone might have entered Rachel's house before her death. | |
| The other was a change of account by her boyfriend, Luke Fitzgerald, about his last contact with her prior to her death. | The other was a change of account by her boyfriend, Luke Fitzgerald, about his last contact with her prior to her death. |
| Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, of Wiltshire Police, said: "It has been assessed, however, that neither of these omissions amount to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct by individual officers, but do indicate a general organisational failure within Devon and Cornwall Police. " | Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, of Wiltshire Police, said: "It has been assessed, however, that neither of these omissions amount to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct by individual officers, but do indicate a general organisational failure within Devon and Cornwall Police. " |
| 'Never resolved' | 'Never resolved' |
| Rachel's story hit the headlines when her parents, Pauline and Mick Holcroft, gave permission for a photo of her dead body holding a syringe to be used in an anti drugs campaign. | Rachel's story hit the headlines when her parents, Pauline and Mick Holcroft, gave permission for a photo of her dead body holding a syringe to be used in an anti drugs campaign. |
| They have spent years campaigning for the circumstances surrounding her death to be more fully investigated. | They have spent years campaigning for the circumstances surrounding her death to be more fully investigated. |
| Rachel's parents allowed this photo to be used in an anti-drugs campaign | Rachel's parents allowed this photo to be used in an anti-drugs campaign |
| Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We are sorry that Rachel's parents have had to suffer the anguish of a protracted investigation that must have been harrowing. | Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We are sorry that Rachel's parents have had to suffer the anguish of a protracted investigation that must have been harrowing. |
| "We are also sorry that the absence of a post-mortem means that they are left with unanswered questions which can never now be resolved." | "We are also sorry that the absence of a post-mortem means that they are left with unanswered questions which can never now be resolved." |
| It was Rachel's parents' quest for answers which led the investigation into her death being reopened and a second inquest in 2007 which concluded she had died from a heroin overdose. | It was Rachel's parents' quest for answers which led the investigation into her death being reopened and a second inquest in 2007 which concluded she had died from a heroin overdose. |
| The inquest could not give a ruling on whether Rachel gave herself the fatal injection. | The inquest could not give a ruling on whether Rachel gave herself the fatal injection. |
| Rachel's parents said: "We will never know who administered that final dose and whether Rachel was alone when she died." | Rachel's parents said: "We will never know who administered that final dose and whether Rachel was alone when she died." |
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| Rachel Whitear died in Exmouth | Rachel Whitear died in Exmouth |