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| Mother doubts Rachel heroin death | Mother doubts Rachel heroin death |
| (1 day later) | |
| A mother has asked a coroner if "foul play" could have led to her daughter's death, a fresh inquest has heard. | A mother has asked a coroner if "foul play" could have led to her daughter's death, a fresh inquest has heard. |
| Rachel Whitear, 21, who used heroin, was found dead with a syringe in her hand at an Exmouth bedsit in May 2000. | Rachel Whitear, 21, who used heroin, was found dead with a syringe in her hand at an Exmouth bedsit in May 2000. |
| Her mother, Pauline Holcroft, from Herefordshire, asked: "Could there have been another cause, even foul play?" | Her mother, Pauline Holcroft, from Herefordshire, asked: "Could there have been another cause, even foul play?" |
| A pathologist said the scene of her death could have been staged and he could not rule out a "third party" being involved, the inquest heard. | A pathologist said the scene of her death could have been staged and he could not rule out a "third party" being involved, the inquest heard. |
| 'Holding syringe oddly' | 'Holding syringe oddly' |
| The first inquest in 2000 concluded with an open verdict but a new inquest with a different coroner was ordered by the High Court last year. | The first inquest in 2000 concluded with an open verdict but a new inquest with a different coroner was ordered by the High Court last year. |
| At the High Court, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said the original coroner should not have released the body for burial before a post-mortem examination and further toxicology tests had been done. | At the High Court, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said the original coroner should not have released the body for burial before a post-mortem examination and further toxicology tests had been done. |
| Miss Whitear, a former student at Bath Spa University, was found dead in her flat in Exmouth on 12 May 2000. | Miss Whitear, a former student at Bath Spa University, was found dead in her flat in Exmouth on 12 May 2000. |
| RACHEL WHITEAR CASE May 2000: Rachel Whitear is found dead in an Exmouth bed-sitDec 2000: Inquest is held but no conclusive findings2003: Parents of Rachel Whitear criticise the original inquiry by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary for not carrying out reliable toxicology tests or a post-mortem examination 2004: Miss Whitear's body is exhumed for a post-mortem examinationOct 2006: High Court orders a new inquest saying original coroner had erredSept 2007: Second inquest begins She had split up from her boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald shortly before her death. | |
| Her mother, Mrs Holcroft, told the inquest: "Rachel appears to be holding the syringe oddly as if someone could have slipped it into her hand. | Her mother, Mrs Holcroft, told the inquest: "Rachel appears to be holding the syringe oddly as if someone could have slipped it into her hand. |
| "Where did she get the heroin? Was it given to her by Luke?" | "Where did she get the heroin? Was it given to her by Luke?" |
| A report by pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary read out at Monday's hearing said there was a possibility the scene had been staged, and a fresh syringe and needle had been placed in Miss Whitear's hands. | A report by pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary read out at Monday's hearing said there was a possibility the scene had been staged, and a fresh syringe and needle had been placed in Miss Whitear's hands. |
| Yet it was also possible she collapsed after recapping the needle herself, he added. | Yet it was also possible she collapsed after recapping the needle herself, he added. |
| Prof Cary said while third party involvement could not be excluded, there were possible explanations for the findings at the scene. | Prof Cary said while third party involvement could not be excluded, there were possible explanations for the findings at the scene. |
| He said the cause of death should be recorded as opiate intoxication on the balance of probability, because of uncertainties. | He said the cause of death should be recorded as opiate intoxication on the balance of probability, because of uncertainties. |
| 'Drug heavyweight' | 'Drug heavyweight' |
| DNA expert Wilfrid Basley said examinations found there was nothing on the syringe needle and a spoon, and there was too little DNA on them to identify who may have handled them. | DNA expert Wilfrid Basley said examinations found there was nothing on the syringe needle and a spoon, and there was too little DNA on them to identify who may have handled them. |
| Mrs Holcroft said Rachel seemed to be holding the syringe "oddly" | Mrs Holcroft said Rachel seemed to be holding the syringe "oddly" |
| Professor Robert Forrest, an expert on the effect of opiates on the body, said Miss Whitear was a heroin user at the time of her death. | Professor Robert Forrest, an expert on the effect of opiates on the body, said Miss Whitear was a heroin user at the time of her death. |
| He said on the balance of probabilities, she died a quick death. | He said on the balance of probabilities, she died a quick death. |
| The inquest also heard a statement from Polly Nash, a friend of Miss Whitear's. | The inquest also heard a statement from Polly Nash, a friend of Miss Whitear's. |
| She said her friend had wanted to be a "drug heavyweight" and had taken cannabis, speed and ecstasy since the age of 14. | She said her friend had wanted to be a "drug heavyweight" and had taken cannabis, speed and ecstasy since the age of 14. |
| Miss Whitear started taking heroin after meeting Mr Fitzgerald but he had not forced her to take it, she said. | Miss Whitear started taking heroin after meeting Mr Fitzgerald but he had not forced her to take it, she said. |
| She said she had been told he was abusive and violent towards her friend and they were bonded by heroin. | She said she had been told he was abusive and violent towards her friend and they were bonded by heroin. |
| Shocking pictures of Miss Whitear's body slumped on the floor were used after her death by her parents to warn people about the dangers of using drugs. | Shocking pictures of Miss Whitear's body slumped on the floor were used after her death by her parents to warn people about the dangers of using drugs. |
| This latest inquest, being heard in Exeter, is expected to last four days. | This latest inquest, being heard in Exeter, is expected to last four days. |