NEW INQUEST INTO HEROIN CAMPAIGN DEATH

The high court today ordered a fresh inquest into the death of
student Rachel Whitear, whose body featured in a graphic anti-drugs
campaign after she was found dead in a bedsit six years ago.

Ms Whitear's mother and stepfather, Pauline and Mick Holcroft, were
present in the London courtroom as two judges ordered the new inquest.

At the hearing in London, her parents had argued that there had been
a failure to carry out a "full, fair and fearless" investigation
into her death.

Their 21-year-old daughter was found dead in a bedsit in Exmouth,
Devon. Initially it was thought she had died from a heroin overdose,
and pictures of Ms Whitear's body were then used in a nationwide
campaign to warn of the dangers of the drug.

But an inquest in December 2000 recorded an open verdict, leaving
the cause of death as "unascertained".

At court today, the Holcrofts backed a request by Wiltshire police
for a court order overturning the original verdict, so that a fresh
hearing can be held in an attempt to establish a positive cause of death.

Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Bean were due to give their
reasons for their decision later this afternoon.

A new investigation into the death was carried out by Wiltshire
police, but the district coroner in Exeter and Greater Devon, Dr
Elizabeth Earland, last year decided against reopening the case.
Wiltshire police were brought in as an outside force to investigate
Ms Whitear's death in 2003 following an earlier investigation by
Devon and Cornwall police. As part of the inquiry her body was
exhumed for a postmortem examination in 2004.

Detectives later said they had found no evidence of foul play, but
that toxicological tests indicated the tragedy was heroin-related.

Before today's hearing, Mrs Holcroft said: "We are 100% behind the
police action, which is also supported by the Independent Police
Complaints Commission and Devon and Cornwall police."