11/04/2005

'No indication' of Shipman suicide, widow tells inquiry

The widow of serial killer Harold Shipman has told an inquiry into his death that he gave no indication of an intention to commit suicide.

Primrose Shipman told the inquiry, which opened at Leeds Crown Court today, that she asked her husband if he was suicidal during a conversation while he was being held in HMP Manchester in 1999. "He said no and that if he did he would talk to me about it," Mrs Shipman told the inquiry.

Mrs Shipman also told the inquiry that she was due to visit Shipman at Wakefield Prison the day after he died, which would have been his 58th birthday.

Shipman, who was convicted of murdering 15 of his patients in 2000, was found hanging in his cell in January 2004. An inquiry into his murders concluded that he probably killed around 250 patients, between 1971 and 1998.

The forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem on Shipman, also told the inquiry that his death was due to hanging and stated that he found no evidence that Shipman had been attacked before his death, according to reports.

It was also reported that the content of diaries kept by Shipman while he was in prison were revealed at the inquest and that they indicated that he was in "deep despair" about being separated from his family.

West Yorkshire coroner David Hinchcliff warned the jury not to allow themselves "the luxury of sympathy for the victims' family and friends" and let it influence their decision.

The inquest is expected to last for two weeks.

(KmcA)


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