THE REASON FOR A 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN’S DEATH REMAINS

THE REASON FOR A 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN’S DEATH REMAINS A MYSTERY

AFTER AN INQUEST.

SOUTHWARK CORONER’S COURT HEARD THAT THE DECAYING BODY OF

MABEL MUMFORD WAS DISCOVERED IN HER GROUND FLOOR FLAT IN ITEM HOUSE,

BECKWAY STREET, WALWORTH.

PC STEVEN SHAWL OF CARTER STREET POLICE SAID THERE WERE NO

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE POLICE WERE ALERTED ON 12 SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR BY SOCIAL

WORKER MRS CHRISTINE HARRISON WHO SAID MRS MUMFORD HAD NOT BEEN SEEN

FOR SOME TIME.

PC SHAWL SAID: ‘THE WINDOW WAS SLIGHTLY AJAR AND A LIGHT ON

IN ONE OF THE FRONT ROOMS.

SHE WAS LYING ON THE BED WITH HER LEGS

OVER THE EDGE.

THERE ARE NO FRIENDS OR RELATIVES THAT WE KNOW OF AND

THERE WERE NO SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

‘

PATHOLOGIST DR STEPHEN CORDON SAID THE BODY WAS SEVERELY

DECOMPOSED AND THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS UNASCERTAINABLE.

CORONER DR DAVID VERNON FOSTER SAID: ‘THIS IS A CASE OF AN

ELDERLY LADY WHO MOST PROBABLY DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES BUT I SHALL

HAVE TO RECORD AN OPEN VERDICT.

‘

ENDS