'Modern tragedy' of Rachel

By Kathryn Edwards
BBC News

The picture of Rachel's body was used in anti-drug campaigns

Her death was described by a High Court judge as a "modern tragedy".

And indeed, the story of Rachel Whitear's short life makes distressing reading.

She had once been a promising university student with an exciting future ahead of her.

But, ravaged by drug addiction, she was to become famous as images of her body and its livid colours were published as a warning to others about substance abuse.

Unquestionably, the shocking pictures had a massive impact - yet behind the headlines, another more puzzling tale was developing.

Miss Whitear, a 21-year-old Bath Spa University student, was found dead in her bedsit in Pound Street in Exmouth, Devon, by her landlord on 12 May 2000. It was believed she had died two days before.

Toxicology tests

Her mother and stepfather believe she first took heroin when she was 18.

Rachel's parents believed she first started using heroin at 18

She eventually dropped out of university after one term and went to live in Exmouth with her boyfriend.

However, the relationship soon foundered and Miss Whitear told her parents she had moved into her own flat. Weeks later she was found dead.

Devon and Cornwall Police carried out an investigation into her death. An inquest was opened and adjourned, but at that stage no post-mortem examination was ordered.

Later that month, her body was taken back home to be buried at Withington Church in Herefordshire.

After her burial, toxicology tests seemed to suggest the amount of heroin in her blood was not enough to kill her and in December an inquest carried out by coroner Richard Van Oppen recorded an open verdict.

Over the next two years, Rachel's parents campaigned against drugs to try to save other lives.

Rachel's body was exhumed for a post-mortem examination

In March 2002, a 22-minute video called Rachel's Story was shown to hundreds of teenage school pupils, and a photograph of her body was released by her mother Pauline Holcroft.

However, during that time more questions were raised over Devon and Cornwall Police's handling of the investigation into Miss Whitear's death.

In May 2003, her mother made an official complaint to the Police Complaints Authority, the predecessor of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, about the force.

Det Ch Supt Paul Howlett of Wiltshire Police was then asked to take over the investigation.

Insufficient evidence

In August that year two men from the Midlands - Miss Whitear's ex-boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald and his brother Simon - were arrested on suspicion of being involved in her death and attempt to tamper with the scene.

But the Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal charges.

In March 2004 Miss Whitear's parents allowed her body to be exhumed to allow a post-mortem examination to be carried out.

Fresh toxicology tests showed a heroin-related death could not be ruled out.

In March 2006, Det Ch Supt Howlett got the Solicitor General's permission to approach the High Court for a new inquest, and in October permission was granted.

The second inquest decided Miss Whitear died of an overdose after pathologist Nathaniel Cary said the cause of death should be recorded as opiate intoxication on the balance of probability.