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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rachel 'injected by former lover' | Rachel 'injected by former lover' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A witness has told a coroner investigating the death of Rachel Whitear that she was injected with heroin by her former boyfriend. | A witness has told a coroner investigating the death of Rachel Whitear that she was injected with heroin by her former boyfriend. |
| Miss Whitear, 21, of Herefordshire, was found dead with a capped syringe in her hand at an Exmouth bedsit in May 2000. | |
| The witness, known only as "J", said Luke Fitzgerald had panicked and had asked his brother to help cover up what had happened. | The witness, known only as "J", said Luke Fitzgerald had panicked and had asked his brother to help cover up what had happened. |
| This is the second inquest into the Bath Spa University student's death. | This is the second inquest into the Bath Spa University student's death. |
| Heroin "hit" | Heroin "hit" |
| Witness "J" and the former girlfriend of Mr Fitzgerald's brother, Simon, told the jury that in 2002 Simon Fitzgerald had received a telephone call from Luke, saying Miss Whitear was dead. | Witness "J" and the former girlfriend of Mr Fitzgerald's brother, Simon, told the jury that in 2002 Simon Fitzgerald had received a telephone call from Luke, saying Miss Whitear was dead. |
| The witness said the couple had been arguing and had been trying to "have a hit" of heroin when Luke Fitzgerald had given Miss Whitear an injection. | The witness said the couple had been arguing and had been trying to "have a hit" of heroin when Luke Fitzgerald had given Miss Whitear an injection. |
| She was told Luke Fitzgerald "stormed out" and later returned to find Miss Whitear on the floor. | She was told Luke Fitzgerald "stormed out" and later returned to find Miss Whitear on the floor. |
| The jury then heard how Simon Fitzgerald drove to meet his brother at the flat and found Miss Whitear on her side. | The jury then heard how Simon Fitzgerald drove to meet his brother at the flat and found Miss Whitear on her side. |
| The witness said she was told how Simon Fitzgerald pulled Miss Whitear up on to her knees, put a different syringe in her hand from the one on the floor and wiped all the surfaces to hide any evidence of drug paraphenalia. | The witness said she was told how Simon Fitzgerald pulled Miss Whitear up on to her knees, put a different syringe in her hand from the one on the floor and wiped all the surfaces to hide any evidence of drug paraphenalia. |
| Medical note | Medical note |
| Earlier, the coroner said Simon Fitzgerald had been summoned to attend the inquest, but had not done so and sent a medical note. | Earlier, the coroner said Simon Fitzgerald had been summoned to attend the inquest, but had not done so and sent a medical note. |
| The coroner read a statement from Simon Fitzgerald which said: "I did not attend the scene of Rachel Whitear's death. I did not go to Devon in April 2000." | The coroner read a statement from Simon Fitzgerald which said: "I did not attend the scene of Rachel Whitear's death. I did not go to Devon in April 2000." |
| Devon and Cornwall Police scenes of crime officer Kevin Morgan, who attended the scene of Miss Whitear's death, was asked by the coroner whether, in other drug-related deaths, he had found people holding syringes with caps on them. | Devon and Cornwall Police scenes of crime officer Kevin Morgan, who attended the scene of Miss Whitear's death, was asked by the coroner whether, in other drug-related deaths, he had found people holding syringes with caps on them. |
| "I cannot recall any other circumstances when that has happened," he said. | "I cannot recall any other circumstances when that has happened," he said. |
| The hearing is the second inquest into Miss Whitear's death - the first held in December 2000 recorded an open verdict. | The hearing is the second inquest into Miss Whitear's death - the first held in December 2000 recorded an open verdict. |
| The inquest is expected to finish by Friday. | The inquest is expected to finish by Friday. |