Family refuses to bury father
June 23, 2010
ANSWERS: Louise Kench, pictured with her son, Peter, is launching an investigation into the death of her father Trevor Chappell A woman is refusing to bury her father because she claims the authorities have not investigated his death thoroughly enough.
Trevor Chappell, 75, was found dead near his home on Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield, on May 13.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died of a heart attack.
But the body of the grandfather-of-one still lies in Royal Oldham Hospital’s mortuary, because his daughter Louise Kench believes someone else is to blame for his death.
Mrs Kench claims ‘horrific’injuries to her father’s face, including what she believes is a footprint on his forehead, are the result of an assault.
Greater Manchester Police say there is nothing suspicious about Mr Chappell’s death and Oldham’s coroner Simon Nelson says he is not going to hold an inquest.
But Mrs Kench, 40, from Bridlington, says she will not allow his body to be buried until ‘justice is done’.
She said: "I went to identify dad’s body with my son and dad’s sister and we all got the shock of our lives.
It was horrific and not what I was expecting. There was a lettered imprint on his forehead, and grazes and cuts all over.
He was black and blue. His face was swollen and there was dried blood coming from his nose. We are being told he had a heart attack and fell over, but it’s perfectly clear to us that something terrible happened to my dad before he died. We cannot move on until our questions are answered fully. A family shouldn’t have to go through this. The investigation has not been thorough enough."
Mrs Kench has also accused Pennine Acute Hospital Trust, which runs Royal Oldham, of ‘cleaning’ Mr Chappell's body, despite her instruction to the contrary.
She said: "When we saw the injuries we told mortuary staff not to touch dad's body until we had carried out our own investigation but when we visited dad's body again it had been wiped clean. Luckily we have our own pictures."
A spokesman for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said staff were following procedure.
"Before family members loved ones at the mortuary, the mortuary staff always ensure that the body is made presentable. Mr Chappell’s was not a forensic case. The Trust understands that the cause of death has now been established and that the family have been informed by the Coroner’s Office."
Detective Inspector Darren Meeks, who led the investigation, said: "The initial findings by a consultant at the Royal Oldham Hospital was that it was likely that Mr Chappell had suffered a heart attack.
His injuries were consistent with falling to the ground face forward.
These findings were confirmed by a post-mortem examination.
There is also no evidence of a footmark on his face, and if there were any unexplained injuries the post-mortem would have been stopped and a full forensic Home Office post-mortem examination requested.
I understand Mr Chappell’s family are going through a difficult time and we continue to offer them as much support as they need. However, there is no evidence to suggest there is anything suspicious about Mr Chappell’s death."
Mrs Kench has instructed a solictor and plans to hire an independent forensic pathologist to take another look at her father’s body. Oldham coroner Simon Nelson said he would only look again at Mr Chappell’s case if any new information comes to light.
He said: "I have no difficulty with the family now employing an independent pathologist and if there are any addditional or diffrent findings I will take a different tact. It’s a very difficult time for family who are in the grieving process and I have offered them my condolences."
Trevor Chappell was born in Saddleworth and spent his working life working in retail before having to retire early because of a back injury.
He was a fundraiser for Royal Oldham Hospital and for Christ Church in Friezland.
He was married to Joan for 45 years until she died from lung disease last year. The couple had a daughter and a grandson Peter, 19.
The family are appealing for anyone who can help their investigation to contact them via L.kench@btopen world.com.
Trevor Chappell, 75, was found dead near his home on Shaw Hall Bank Road, Greenfield, on May 13.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died of a heart attack.
But the body of the grandfather-of-one still lies in Royal Oldham Hospital’s mortuary, because his daughter Louise Kench believes someone else is to blame for his death.
Mrs Kench claims ‘horrific’injuries to her father’s face, including what she believes is a footprint on his forehead, are the result of an assault.
Greater Manchester Police say there is nothing suspicious about Mr Chappell’s death and Oldham’s coroner Simon Nelson says he is not going to hold an inquest.
But Mrs Kench, 40, from Bridlington, says she will not allow his body to be buried until ‘justice is done’.
She said: "I went to identify dad’s body with my son and dad’s sister and we all got the shock of our lives.
It was horrific and not what I was expecting. There was a lettered imprint on his forehead, and grazes and cuts all over.
He was black and blue. His face was swollen and there was dried blood coming from his nose. We are being told he had a heart attack and fell over, but it’s perfectly clear to us that something terrible happened to my dad before he died. We cannot move on until our questions are answered fully. A family shouldn’t have to go through this. The investigation has not been thorough enough."
Mrs Kench has also accused Pennine Acute Hospital Trust, which runs Royal Oldham, of ‘cleaning’ Mr Chappell's body, despite her instruction to the contrary.
She said: "When we saw the injuries we told mortuary staff not to touch dad's body until we had carried out our own investigation but when we visited dad's body again it had been wiped clean. Luckily we have our own pictures."
A spokesman for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said staff were following procedure.
"Before family members loved ones at the mortuary, the mortuary staff always ensure that the body is made presentable. Mr Chappell’s was not a forensic case. The Trust understands that the cause of death has now been established and that the family have been informed by the Coroner’s Office."
Detective Inspector Darren Meeks, who led the investigation, said: "The initial findings by a consultant at the Royal Oldham Hospital was that it was likely that Mr Chappell had suffered a heart attack.
His injuries were consistent with falling to the ground face forward.
These findings were confirmed by a post-mortem examination.
There is also no evidence of a footmark on his face, and if there were any unexplained injuries the post-mortem would have been stopped and a full forensic Home Office post-mortem examination requested.
I understand Mr Chappell’s family are going through a difficult time and we continue to offer them as much support as they need. However, there is no evidence to suggest there is anything suspicious about Mr Chappell’s death."
Mrs Kench has instructed a solictor and plans to hire an independent forensic pathologist to take another look at her father’s body. Oldham coroner Simon Nelson said he would only look again at Mr Chappell’s case if any new information comes to light.
He said: "I have no difficulty with the family now employing an independent pathologist and if there are any addditional or diffrent findings I will take a different tact. It’s a very difficult time for family who are in the grieving process and I have offered them my condolences."
Trevor Chappell was born in Saddleworth and spent his working life working in retail before having to retire early because of a back injury.
He was a fundraiser for Royal Oldham Hospital and for Christ Church in Friezland.
He was married to Joan for 45 years until she died from lung disease last year. The couple had a daughter and a grandson Peter, 19.
The family are appealing for anyone who can help their investigation to contact them via L.kench@btopen world.com.
