The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
ISRAEL: Boris Johnson to take up case of Kinross woman’s death.
PM Theresa May says foreign secretary will push for answers
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his office will take up the case of a Kinrossshire woman said to have been murdered in Israel 12 months ago.
Prime Minister Theresa May made the pledge at Westminster after being challenged to intervene with Israeli authorities.
The case was raised in parliament by SNP MP Hannah Bardell, who represents the Livingston constituency in which Julie Pearson’s family live.
She has been highly critical of perceived Government inaction over the case, which has left them struggling to find answers for themselves.
Julie, 38, was working at a hotel in the Red Sea resort of Eliat in Israel when she died on November 27 last year.
A police probe into her death remains “open” but officials have decided she died of natural causes, despite a pathologist’s report which leaves open the possibility a brutal beating may have played a key role in her death.
Her family believe she was assaulted by a former boyfriend, leading to major internal bleeding that could have claimed her life.
A post-mortem examination revealed major bruising to her face and body, signs of restraint, a broken jaw and evidence of a blow to her stomach that could have caused bleeding.
The family has employed a lawyer and is seeking the intervention of the Government, with help from Ms Bardell and Julie’s constituency MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.
Julie’s aunt Deborah Pearson, who has been leading the family’s fight, welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge but remains sceptical about the nature of the UK Government’s involvement.
A similar statement was previously given by former Prime Minister David Cameron but the family has barely heard a word from Israel or from UK authorities.
Ms Bardell said: “We understand that the case is still open and the Israeli police are continuing with their investigation but there seems to be little sense of urgency.
“I raised this matter with Theresa May in the hope that she could personally intervene and put further pressure on the Israeli authorities and Government to get answers for the family, I hope she now acts and I shall be writing to her directly to update her and seek her support.”
The Prime Minister said the minister of the Foreign Office was already “actively working on this question” and pledged to ask him to meet Ms Bardell “to discuss what can be done and what the Foreign Office is doing”.