The High Court has quashed a coroner’s verdict of suicide in the case of Bethany Shipsey, with new evidence suggesting she did not intend to take her own life.
A recent ruling by the High Court has overturned a coroner’s verdict that a Worcestershire woman, Bethany Shipsey, died by suicide after taking unlicensed slimming pills. The decision came after new evidence was presented, suggesting that it is “more likely than not” that the 21-year-old did not intend to take her own life when she ingested the toxic substance Dinitrophenol (DNP) on February 15, 2017, which ultimately led to her death from cardiac arrest.
Bethany Shipsey, who had a history of mental health issues, including an eating disorder and self-harming behaviours, was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after taking a quantity of DNP pills. Her parents, Doug and Carole Shipsey, have always contended that their daughter had no intention of taking her own life. They initiated a legal challenge seeking to amend the inquest findings, which included the determination of suicide.
The Court, led by Lady Justice Macur and Mrs Justice Hill, ruled on Friday that the previous findings were unfair. Mrs Justice Hill noted in her judgement that a fresh investigation, considering the newly submitted evidence, could conclude that Bethany did not intend to end her life. Among the new evidence were social media messages sent by Bethany shortly before her death, indicating she had taken “herbal diet pills” and was preparing for activities with her pets, which contradicted the notion of a suicidal intent.
The family’s legal representation, Yogi Amin, stated that Bethany’s parents had made a commendable effort to reverse the initial suicide conclusion, highlighting their belief that she misunderstood the pills she had consumed. The High Court’s judgement not only quashed references to suicide but also included the Shipseys’ assertion that Bethany was unlawfully killed due to the consumption of the dangerous drugs sold online.
Following Bethany’s death, her parents campaigned for stricter regulations surrounding unlicensed pills like DNP, which has been linked to numerous fatalities. Despite their advocacy, Bethany’s father expressed disappointment regarding the lengthy process of seeking justice but felt vindicated by the court’s acknowledgment of their claims.
Overall, the judicial decision marks a significant development in the Shipsey family’s quest for an accurate understanding of Bethany’s death and has set a precedent for other families challenging coroner’s inquest conclusions. Mrs Justice Hill stated the ruling aims to provide some closure to the Shipsey family as they continue to grieve their daughter’s loss.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/rightverdictforbethany/ – This URL supports the claim that Bethany Shipsey’s family challenged the coroner’s verdict of suicide, arguing that she did not intend to take her own life. It also mentions the family’s campaign for stricter regulations on unlicensed pills like DNP.
- https://www.ukinquestlawblog.co.uk/shipsey/ – This URL provides information about the High Court’s decision to overturn the coroner’s verdict in Bethany Shipsey’s case, highlighting the legal process involved in challenging such rulings.
- https://careappointments.com/care-news/england/219304/coroners-suicide-ruling-over-death-of-21-year-old-woman-quashed-at-high-court/ – This URL corroborates the High Court’s decision to quash the coroner’s verdict of suicide in a case involving a young woman who took unlicensed slimming pills, similar to Bethany Shipsey’s situation.
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/492eca/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/evidence/evidbb.pdf – While not directly related to Bethany Shipsey’s case, this URL provides general information on evidence rules, which can be relevant to understanding how new evidence might influence legal decisions in similar cases.
- https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04_agenda_book_for_evidence_rules_meeting_final.pdf – This URL discusses proposed changes to evidence rules, which can impact how new evidence is considered in legal proceedings, potentially relevant to cases like Bethany Shipsey’s.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This URL is the source of the original article about Bethany Shipsey’s case, providing context for the High Court’s decision and the family’s advocacy for stricter regulations on unlicensed pills.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a recent High Court ruling, indicating it is relatively fresh. However, the underlying incident occurred in 2017, which suggests some of the context is historical.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
There are no direct quotes from external sources that could be verified online. The narrative includes statements from Mrs Justice Hill and Yogi Amin, but these are not independently confirmed.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Birmingham Mail, a reputable local news source. This generally indicates a high level of reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the High Court ruling and the family’s legal challenge are plausible given the context of legal proceedings and public advocacy. However, some details, such as the specific social media messages, cannot be independently verified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be based on a recent legal development, with a reliable source and plausible claims. While some historical context is involved, the overall freshness and reliability of the information support its validity.
