Funeral Directors Accused of Leaving Body in Decomposing State
Two individuals who operated a funeral home are standing trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, facing serious allegations of fraud and preventing the lawful burial of a deceased man. The court heard that the body of 87-year-old William Mitchell was left in a leaking, unrefrigerated mortuary room for 36 days, where it showed obvious signs of decomposition.
Shocking Discovery by Enforcement Agents
High Court enforcement agents made the grim discovery while repossessing the premises of Elkin and Bell Funerals in Gosport, Hampshire, due to unpaid rent and debts. Prosecutor Lesley Bates KC informed the jury that the agents found the bodies of two elderly men in deeply concerning conditions.
Ms Bates described the scene: "Water was coming in through a leak in the roof of the mortuary room, it was running down the walls. The room was not refrigerated; the temperature within the mortuary room was no different to elsewhere in the premises." The bodies were identified as those of William Mitchell and Clive Reynolds.
Allegations of Fraudulent Activity
The court was told that Mr Mitchell had a pre-paid funeral plan with Golden Charter Ltd, and the defendants, Richard Elkin, 49, and Hayley Bell, 42, had been paid £2,040 to cover the costs of his cremation. Despite this, the cremation never took place.
Prosecutors allege that Bell then provided an invoice for £1,295 to Mr Mitchell's sister-in-law, Patricia Mitchell, for a coffin of "simple design." Simultaneously, she allegedly informed Golden Charter that a "fully lined, oak veneered MDF coffin" would be used, even though no coffin had been purchased for Mr Mitchell at all.
The family's distress was compounded when police informed them that the private cremation they believed had occurred never took place. They had even placed a wreath at Portchester Crematorium under the "mistaken belief that his body had been cremated there."
Defendants' Responses and Denials
The court heard that Elkin told police he had not been involved in the business for two years and placed responsibility on Bell. However, the prosecution contends he was "actively involved," citing his collection of Mr Mitchell's body from the man's home.
Regarding the appalling conditions, the pair claimed they were aware of a roof leak and were waiting for their landlord to conduct repairs. Elkin also suggested the refrigeration unit must have broken.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The charges they face include:
- Intentionally causing a public nuisance between 27 June 2022 and 11 December 2023.
- Preventing the lawful burial of a dead body between 3 November 2023 and 11 December 2023.
- Carrying on a business fraudulently between 10 August 2022 and 11 December 2023.
Additionally, Elkin is separately accused of using a false certificate of funeral directing. The trial continues at Portsmouth Crown Court.
