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Joan Dean

10/ 7/2002

JOAN Dean was the second, and last, patient whose inquest recorded an open verdict before the inquiry overruled this with an unlawful killing decision in 2002.

Mrs Dean died suddenly on February 27, 1998, after an appointment with Harold Shipman. Her death at her Joel Lane home was certified as coronary thrombosis and heart disease. The 75-year-old's inquest also reports that some jewellery went missing.

But the verdict remained open following expert evidence from specialist GP John Grenville and the fact no-one saw Shipman at the Gee Cross house on the day of death.

Dr Grenville said, in this instance, Shipman gave the impression of being a good, competent doctor.

"But in this case to give the cause of death as a heart attack was incompetent. A possible explanation was he panicked - he'd done so on other cases too," Dr Grenville said.

Coroner John Pollard said in his summing up: "Bearing in mind the high level of proof required, I have not found the case proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The only verdict open to me is an open verdict."

Son Brian Dean had earlier told the hearing he spoke with a 'rattled' Shipman a day later.

"When I asked him for a post mortem he seemed rattled for a minute or two," Mr Dean said.

"I thought it strange that mum would have to wait for one. He said she had probably died of a stroke and he would speak to the coroner on the Monday."

Mrs Dean's body was found by friends Peter Bramall and Harry Durose, who were to take her to the theatre. They arrived just before 7pm and saw that her fire was on. Obtaining a key they found their friend in the bedroom.

John Ratledge, solicitor for the family, told the inquest: "Mr Dean was told by Shipman that his mother had been complaining of dizziness and numbness and that her death was probably due to a stroke.

"But why would he say this if he later certified that the cause of death was a heart attack?

"Why did he state on the cremation form the cause of death as natural causes when he had received a fax from the duty doctor at the very latest on Monday morning, which stated a sudden and unexpected death. Why do all these things if he was not trying to cover things up?"

Prior to the inquest Mr Dean spoke to the Advertiser to explain his mother was a vivacious woman.

As a long-standing extra in the soap opera, Coronation Street, Mrs Dean knew some of Britain's biggest stars - but she was also prepared to roll her sleeves up for the family.

Mrs Dean was good friends with Pat Phoenix and John Savident, characters Elsie Tanner and Fred Elliott respectively.

But for 30 years she also did her bit for the family's furniture business - which had been passed down through three generations.

Mrs Dean had just retired and was looking forward to the future.