Browse Sections

• Education
• Roadworks
• Shipman 
  • Uncovering the Truth
  • Guilty
  • The Inquests
  • The Evidence Mounts
  • March 1998
  • Fight for Justice
  • The Inquiry
  • Making a Drama
  • The Baker Report
  • The End
• Special reports

Doris Earls

8/ 7/2002

THE death of Doris Earls saw Harold Shipman commit murder while her sick husband lay in bed just yards away.

Mrs Earls died on May 21, 1997 at a time when she was caring for her sick husband, Fred, whose health had deteriorated over the past five years.

At Tameside Magistrates' Court, coroner John Pollard described Harold Shipman's house call killing of Mrs Earls as 'a most callous and heartless act'. A verdict of unlawful killing followed.

Mrs Earls death had been sudden and surprising.

Her Brabyns Road neighbour in Gee Cross, Pamela Ewing, said Doris was always fit and healthy in the time they spent as friends, enjoying a 'real zest for life' with her dancing and swimming.

Both Mrs Ewing and Mrs Earls popped into each others houses on the day of death.

At 2.50pm Mrs Ewing and husband said they were going into town and asked if Mrs Earls needed anything.

Mrs Earls asked for a carton of juice which her friend gave her from her own home. Mrs Ewing and her husband then went shopping with Mrs Earls waving them off.

Upon their return, they discovered their friend had died.