Mother doubts Rachel heroin death

The image of Rachel Whitear's body horrified the country

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.

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.

'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.

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.

RACHEL WHITEAR CASE May 2000: Rachel Whitear is found dead in an Exmouth bed-sit Dec 2000: Inquest is held but no conclusive findings 2003: 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 examination Oct 2006: High Court orders a new inquest saying original coroner had erred Sept 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.

"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.

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.

He said the cause of death should be recorded as opiate intoxication on the balance of probability, because of uncertainties.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This latest inquest, being heard in Exeter, is expected to last four days.