Pensioner's 'Natural' Death Ruled a Murder After Shocking Post-Mortem Revelation
Pensioner's 'Natural' Death Ruled a Murder

A coroner has delivered a shocking verdict, ruling that a pensioner originally believed to have died peacefully in his sleep was in fact the victim of a deliberate killing.

The body of 70-year-old Graham Snell was discovered at his home on Greengate Street in Middleton, Greater Manchester, on January 18, 2023. Initial assessments pointed towards a death from natural causes.

However, a routine post-mortem examination revealed a terrifying truth. Pathologists found a lethal concentration of a prescription medication in Mr. Snell's system, a level so high it could not have been self-administered.

A Verdict of Unlawful Killing

At the opening of the inquest into his death, Area Coroner for Manchester West, Joanna Kearsley, stated the findings were "consistent with the administration of a toxic substance by a third party."

As a result, the coroner formally concluded that Mr. Snell was unlawfully killed, completely overturning the initial assumption of a natural death.

An Ongoing Murder Investigation

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that a murder investigation was launched following the pathologist's report. The case remains active and open as detectives work to uncover the circumstances behind this calculated act.

A 42-year-old man was previously arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries, as the police investigation continues.

The community in Middleton has been left reeling by the news, which has transformed a seemingly tragic but natural event into a sinister crime.