New light on 'heroin death'

Heroin addict Rachel Whitear did not die of disease or "physical trauma", according to preliminary results of a post-mortem examination.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, leading a new inquiry into the tragedy, said it was still possible the 21-year-old suffered a drugs-related death in a Devon bedsit in 2001.

Her remains were exhumed from her grave in Herefordshire yesterday but further tests will take five weeks. It was originally thought she took a drugs overdose but an inquest recorded an open verdict and no post mortem was carried out.