‘Medieval’ post-mortem rules to be examined

REVIEW: Criticism over funeral delay

The father of a junior footballer killed in a New Year’s Day attack has criticised “barbaric” and “medieval” post-mortem rules as it emerged a review into the process is being carried out.

Shaun Woodburn’s father told how the family’s plans to hold a funeral for his son were delayed last year when the defence requested a second postmortem examination.

Kevin Woodburn said the move amounted to his son having to be “cut open again” and argues that both the prosecution and defence should be represented at the same, single examination.

Scottish Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has said it is possible that “improvements can be made on current practice” and revealed that law officers are looking into the relevant rules.

Mr Woodburn said: “I can’t stop fighting in his (Shaun’s) name to make changes to the system.”

Father-of-one Shaun, 30, died after being attacked by a teenager outside Gladstone’s pub in the Leith area of Edinburgh in the early hours of January 1 2017.

The teenager was sentenced to four years’ detention after being convicted of culpable homicide.

Mr Woodburn said it took more than two weeks for Shaun’s body to be released to the family.

“I see no reason where in any civilised society there has to be a God-given right that there will be a second post-mortem on behalf of an accused,” he said.

“Why can we not have a system where there is a representative from the prosecution and a representative from the defence at the same post-mortem? Why is that not possible? We’re in the 21st Century.” He added: “The whole process comes across as barbaric, medieval. There is no need for it, there is another way to deal with it.”

Mr Woodburn welcomed the review but said members of the public must be at its heart.

Picture: PA. Shaun Woodburn, 30, died after an attack in 2017.