Body in morgue for three years

Louise Tench and her son Peter: don’t accept official version of events

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A PENSIONER’S body has been kept in a morgue for three years because his family insists the death was suspicious.

Trevor Chappell (75) was found collapsed outside his home in Greenfield in May 2010. A post-mortem ruled the pensioner suffered a heart attack, but grieving daughter Louise Kench has refused to rule out foul play and refuses to release the body for a funeral. She claims police have failed to properly investigate.

Mr Chappell was found dead near his home in Shaw Hall Bank Road on May 13, 2010.

His daughter said the pensioner had injures on his face consistent with an attack, including what she believes was a footprint on his forehead.

But GMP detectives say the injuries are consistent with a fall. Oldham coroner Simon Nelson has ruled out an inquest.

Mr Chappell’s body remains in storage at the Royal Oldham Hospital. Staff have made several attempts to negotiate with the family, but Mrs Kench wishes to preserve evidence of her father’s injury until she can engage an independent pathologist.

Mrs Kench said: “I am still trying to get an independent forensic pathologist to examine the body. I am not satisfied justice has been done. My father had black eyes and a treadmark on his face. The police and the pathologist have said these are explained by the short fall when he collapsed — but there is no way a single fall caused all those injuries.”

Mrs Kench, who has complained to the General Medical Council, believes witnesses may still be able to explain what happened.

But Det Insp Darren Meeks, who oversaw the original investigation, said there was no evidence of foul play.

He said: “A number of witnesses were traced and no evidence was uncovered of any altercation. There is nothing to suspect foul play or third-party involvement. His family have clearly found his death difficult to accept.”

A Pennine Acute Hospitals spokesman said: “We have been very supportive by caring for Mr Chappell’s body in our mortuary for the last three years. The police and the coroner have both closed their enquiries in this case. We have therefore been encouraging the family to accept Mr Chappell’s body for burial.”