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Whitear inquest raises questions Whitear inquest raises questions
(20 minutes later)
Heroin-user Rachel Whitear could have been with someone else when she died, a jury at a second inquest into her death has concluded.Heroin-user Rachel Whitear could have been with someone else when she died, a jury at a second inquest into her death has concluded.
Jurors said she did die from a heroin overdose, but said they could not know whether she injected herself.Jurors said she did die from a heroin overdose, but said they could not know whether she injected herself.
Miss Whitear, 21, was found dead at her flat in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000.Miss Whitear, 21, was found dead at her flat in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000.
The inquest was adjourned on Thursday after a new witness came forward, but no fresh evidence emerged and the jury was sent out to consider its verdict.The inquest was adjourned on Thursday after a new witness came forward, but no fresh evidence emerged and the jury was sent out to consider its verdict.
Family reaction
Speaking after the inquest Rachel's mother, Pauline Holcroft, said: "The jury's findings just confirmed our greatest fear - that we may just never know who else was there when Rachel died."
In the first inquest, held in 2000, the coroner recorded an open verdict.In the first inquest, held in 2000, the coroner recorded an open verdict.
The new inquest, with a different coroner, was ordered last year.The new inquest, with a different coroner, was ordered last year.
At a hearing in the High Court, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said the original coroner should not have released the body for burial before a post-mortem examination was carried out.At a hearing in the High Court, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said the original coroner should not have released the body for burial before a post-mortem examination was carried out.