Police and coroner in row over £4,000 bill for pathologist

 A row between police and the coroner over a £4,000 bill has emerged at the trial of a chef accused of killing his girlfriend.

Police investigating the death of Caroline Devlin refused to pay for a Home Office pathologist because they only wanted a “routine” examination conducted, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Miss Devlin was found unresponsive by her partner, Robert Trigg, 52, at her home on March 26, 2006.

Mr Trigg is charged with the manslaughter of 35-year-old Miss Devlin, as well as the murder of another girlfriend, 52-year-old Susan Nicholson on April 17, 2011, in Worthing, West Sussex. He denies the charges. Jurors were told neither Sussex Police nor the coroner’s office wanted to foot the bill of up to £4,000 for a more thorough examination.