This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/6105236.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fresh probe into fireball death | Fresh probe into fireball death |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A new inquest has been ordered into the death of a judge who was killed in a fire in his garden shed. | A new inquest has been ordered into the death of a judge who was killed in a fire in his garden shed. |
| Andrew Chubb, 58, died in a fireball in the shed at his home near Chard, Somerset, in July 2001. | Andrew Chubb, 58, died in a fireball in the shed at his home near Chard, Somerset, in July 2001. |
| Less than an hour earlier, he had asked his wife Jennifer for a divorce to end their 34-year marriage. | Less than an hour earlier, he had asked his wife Jennifer for a divorce to end their 34-year marriage. |
| His mistress challenged an inquest ruling which said his death was accidental. On Wednesday, the High Court ordered another inquest be held. | His mistress challenged an inquest ruling which said his death was accidental. On Wednesday, the High Court ordered another inquest be held. |
| Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips and Mr Justice Roderick Evans accepted that a fresh investigation might cause "distress" to the judge's family. | |
| But they said: "Nonetheless, we have concluded that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to leave undisturbed... a verdict which is based on only part of the relevant evidence - and which the balance of the relevant evidence suggests may be open to doubt." | But they said: "Nonetheless, we have concluded that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to leave undisturbed... a verdict which is based on only part of the relevant evidence - and which the balance of the relevant evidence suggests may be open to doubt." |
| The original inquest was conducted by the East Somerset Coroner in December 2001. | The original inquest was conducted by the East Somerset Coroner in December 2001. |
| New evidence | New evidence |
| Mrs Chubb has said that her husband had gone outside to a shed where lawnmowers and petrol were stored and she then saw the building explode. | Mrs Chubb has said that her husband had gone outside to a shed where lawnmowers and petrol were stored and she then saw the building explode. |
| But lawyer Martin Westgate, for the judge's lover, Kerry Sparrow, has told the High Court there had not been a full inquiry at the original inquest. | But lawyer Martin Westgate, for the judge's lover, Kerry Sparrow, has told the High Court there had not been a full inquiry at the original inquest. |
| He said: "There is important lay evidence that has a bearing on and supports expert evidence [that has] subsequently come to light." | He said: "There is important lay evidence that has a bearing on and supports expert evidence [that has] subsequently come to light." |
| Some of the new evidence suggested a fire was well established before the explosion in the shed occurred, said Mr Westgate. | Some of the new evidence suggested a fire was well established before the explosion in the shed occurred, said Mr Westgate. |
| Further material that had emerged since the Attorney General had approved an application to be made for a new inquest had "increased the unease" over the case, said Mr Westgate. | Further material that had emerged since the Attorney General had approved an application to be made for a new inquest had "increased the unease" over the case, said Mr Westgate. |
| Written submissions state that Mrs Chubb, who is now believed to have moved to Australia, was arrested on suspicion of murder and perjury. She was not charged on either count. | Written submissions state that Mrs Chubb, who is now believed to have moved to Australia, was arrested on suspicion of murder and perjury. She was not charged on either count. |