Mystery over death of woman found dead in her flat
SISTER’S DESPERATE PLEA FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DEATH SHE BELIEVES TO BE SUSPICIOUS
THE family of Sandra Densley have just one simple request – to know the truth.
It is now more than 11 weeks since the ‘lively’ character was found dead on the kitchen floor of her flat in Partington and they still have a raft of unanswered questions.
For a start, what was the cause of death?
Sandra was aged 56 and although she had some difficulties with alcohol, her loved ones say she was otherwise healthy and that a GP has confirmed she had no known underlying health conditions.
A post-mortem exam proved inconclusive.
But when her sister Helen Giblin went to identify Sandra’s body, she was horrified to see she what she believes to be multiple injuries including bruising to her face, arms and legs. It wasn’t to be the first shock. On July 20, Helen discovered almost £6,000 had been drained from a secret bank account belonging to her sister in the weeks before and after she died.
GMP say Sandra’s death is being treated as non-suspicious and is now a matter for south Manchester’s coroner who may hold an inquest in January.
Helen and her family believe detectives have given up far too quickly.
They believe the fraud could be linked to Sandra’s death and want a new investigation to find out what really happened on the night of July 5.
Sandra Densley, born in Withington, was always known as a ‘big character.’
“She was very, very lively,” said Helen.
“She worked at Costco running the demos for 10 years, she earned good money and she was sensible with it.” Around five years ago, Helen says Sandra was in a volatile relationship and wanted
out. She arranged to move her into the flat in Partington with Your Housing association and the fresh start appeared to be a turning point. But sadly, trouble had a habit of following Sandra wherever she went. And when Helen got a knock at the door at 1.30am, she had a terrible feeling it would be about her older sister. It is understood an ambulance was called to Sandra’s flat at around 9pm on July 5 to reports she was lying unresponsive on the kitchen floor. Paramedics attended but Sandra was declared dead at the scene. Due the circumstances of Sandra’s death, the ambulance service contacted police who arrived at around 10pm. It is understood officers took statements from a number of people who were in the property at the time, or had visited, and carried out a forensic search. Helen says detectives told her nobody had seen Sandra for about three hours before she was found unresponsive, and those in the house ‘thought she’d gone to bed’ because she was ‘feeling sick’.
“Within four hours, they’ve decided it was not suspicious,” said Helen.
“I said ‘why would it not be suspicious?’ A 56-year-old found face down on the floor is suspicious to me...”
Helen’s feeling that something sinister may have taken place in the flat increased when she went to identify her sister’s body.
“We weren’t allowed to go and see the body for five days,” she said.
“There was a lot of facial injuries, she had an awful lot of new bruising, a big indentation over her right eye.
“Bruising all along her cheek, bruising on the legs, the arms and an awful lot of old bruising which they’ve not confirmed when that was from...
“I was shocked, horrified. The woman from the coroner’s office said to ‘be prepared – and we’ll know more when we’ve done the autopsy.’”
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said that Sandra’s death was investigated and concluded to be non-suspicious.
The force stressed to the M.E.N that the fraud investigation involving the money stolen from Sandra bank account remains open.
The force also suggested that although her death is being treated as non-suspicious, further criminal investigation could take place if the coroner feels it is necessary.
I said ‘why would it not be suspicious?’ A 56-year-old found face down on the floor is suspicious to me...
Helen Giblin