No inquest after Wilts police probe (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

No inquest after Wilts police probe

THERE will be no second inquest into the death of a student whose picture was used in a hard-hitting anti-drugs campaign.

Wiltshire police, led by Det Supt Paul Howlett, carried out a new investigation into the death of 21-year-old Rachel Whitear, whose body was found in a flat in Exmouth, after an open verdict at the original inquest.

This week the former Bath University student's parents, Mick and Pauline Holcroft, from Ledbury, said: "We are extremely disappointed and perplexed.

"DS Howlett and his dedicated team have carried out an exhaustive and extensive two-year re-investigation into Rachel's death, which has been exceptionally thorough, highly detailed and no doubt costly.

"It is our firm belief that there are indisputable grounds to, at the very least, now provide a cause of death."

After her death Mr and Mrs Holcroft took the unusual step of releasing images of Rachel, kneeling on the floor holding a syringe, to highlight the dangers of drug abuse.

The Police Complaints Authority chose Wiltshire officers to take over the inquiry following a complaint by Mr and Mrs Holcroft about the two previous probes by Devon and Cornwall Police.

The decision not to hold another inquest was taken by the Exeter and Greater Devon District Coroner, Dr Elizabeth Earland. Mr and Mrs Holcroft are now planning to appeal to the Attorney General for a full and open hearing into the case.