Woman found dead in canal has been named
61-YEAR-OLD’S BODY WAS PULLED FROM WATER IN MARCH 2020
A WOMAN who was found dead in a South Derbyshire canal has been named.
The body of Valerie Weston was found in the Trent and Mersey Canal between Swarkestone and Westonon-trent in March last year.
Multiple emergency services were called to the canal off Swarkestone Road after reports a woman had been seen in the water on Friday, March 6.
On arrival they found the 61-yearold had died, with a post-mortem examination giving a medical cause of the death as immersion.
It has now been revealed an inquest into Mrs Weston’s death will take place and will look into the treatment she received in the lead up to her death.
A pre-inquest review into her death was held at Derby Coroners’ Court on Thursday.
The hearing was told that Mrs Weston had been dealing with mental health issues around 2017, and the inquest would look in detail at the support she received from January 2020 up to her death three months later.
It was revealed that Mrs Weston, of Blackthorn Close, Oakwood, Derby, had been in contact with multiple agencies in the lead up to her death.
Peter Nieto, area coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, revealed that Mrs Weston had called 111, contacted her GP practice and gone to
A&E all in the week before she died.
Mr Nieto said while a full inquest had been due to take place this week, he was of the opinion more information was needed to understand what had happened.
He added that the full hearing would not take place for months as further statements and information would need to be obtained from all the relevant parties.
Speaking to Mrs Weston’s family, he said: “We are certainly not going to hold the inquest in the next six months, I hope you understand why that needs to be.
“It’s important that we have all the information we need to hold an adequate inquest. I do apologise, it’s going to be some time after Valerie’s death.
“Please do accept my condolences for you very sad loss.”