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Rachel police saw 'no foul play' | Rachel police saw 'no foul play' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Devon and Cornwall police officer who investigated the death of heroin addict Rachel Whitear has denied the inquiry was not thorough. | |
Rachel's parents have criticised the investigation which concluded her death was a straight forward drug overdose. | Rachel's parents have criticised the investigation which concluded her death was a straight forward drug overdose. |
In a statement Det Con Mark Beresford told the Exeter inquest: "There was no reason to suspect foul play." | In a statement Det Con Mark Beresford told the Exeter inquest: "There was no reason to suspect foul play." |
Pictures of Miss Whitear, who died in her Exmouth bedsit in May 2000, were published to warn people about drugs. | Pictures of Miss Whitear, who died in her Exmouth bedsit in May 2000, were published to warn people about drugs. |
Det Con Beresford confirmed to the jury that house-to-house inquiries around her Devon flat came up with no evidence. | Det Con Beresford confirmed to the jury that house-to-house inquiries around her Devon flat came up with no evidence. |
Landlord 'stoned' | Landlord 'stoned' |
He said: "No-one heard any shouts or screams and Rachel's room was tidy with no evidence of a struggle." | |
Det Con Beresford has since left the force but told the inquest he felt officers had carried out a thorough investigation. | Det Con Beresford has since left the force but told the inquest he felt officers had carried out a thorough investigation. |
The inquest was also told in a further statement that Miss Whitear's landlord, Darren Tynan, heard someone leave the flat on the night of her death. | The inquest was also told in a further statement that Miss Whitear's landlord, Darren Tynan, heard someone leave the flat on the night of her death. |
But he had not told the police because he had been "stoned". | But he had not told the police because he had been "stoned". |
His friend Sheila Collins said in a statement Mr Tynan had told her he had heard someone leaving the house saying: "I heard the door slam." | His friend Sheila Collins said in a statement Mr Tynan had told her he had heard someone leaving the house saying: "I heard the door slam." |
Wiped down | Wiped down |
Mr Tynan had called on Ms Collins and her partner Neil Collins to tell them he had found Miss Whitear's body. | Mr Tynan had called on Ms Collins and her partner Neil Collins to tell them he had found Miss Whitear's body. |
The inquest has heard claims from a witness known only as "J" that Miss Whitear's ex-boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald had injected her, left, then returned to find her dead. | The inquest has heard claims from a witness known only as "J" that Miss Whitear's ex-boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald had injected her, left, then returned to find her dead. |
He and his brother Simon, according to the female witness, got rid of the syringe, replaced it with another, wiped down surfaces and altered the position of Miss Whitear's body. | He and his brother Simon, according to the female witness, got rid of the syringe, replaced it with another, wiped down surfaces and altered the position of Miss Whitear's body. |
But Luke Fitzgerald told the hearing on Tuesday he was not present when Miss Whitear died and had not known where she lived. | But Luke Fitzgerald told the hearing on Tuesday he was not present when Miss Whitear died and had not known where she lived. |
Simon Fitzgerald said in a statement he did not attend the scene of Miss Whitear's death or interfere with her body. | Simon Fitzgerald said in a statement he did not attend the scene of Miss Whitear's death or interfere with her body. |