Inquest Resumed After 27-Year Wait

14 September 2021

The Senior Coroner for North West Wales has agreed to resume an inquest into the death of Mrs Doreen Morris, who was murdered at her home on Anglesey on 25 March 1994.

An inquest was opened and adjourned, with the cause of Mrs Morris’ death being recorded as “not ascertained”. A criminal trial took place but the accused was acquitted. Mrs Morris’ daughter, Audrey Fraser, has been fighting for justice ever since.

In September 2009 Mrs Fraser secured a “fiat” from the Attorney-General, entitling her ask the High Court to grant a fresh inquest. The application was rejected, despite the Court acknowledging Mrs Fraser’s “diligence and determination”.

Earlier this year, following the decision of the Supreme Court in Maughan, Mrs Fraser made a fresh application for the inquest to be resumed, in part based on the fact that a conclusion of unlawful killing can now be returned on the balance of probabilities, rather than beyond reasonable doubt. On 30 August 2021 the Senior Coroner for North West Wales acceded to her application, on the basis that there has not been a proper fact-finding exercise into the question of how Mrs Morris died. The inquest will be listed in due course.

Mrs Fraser is represented by Matt Stanbury of our Inquests & Public Inquiries team, instructed by Emily Comer and Clair Hilder of Broudie Jackson Canter Solicitors, Liverpool.