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CHRONOLOGY |
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England On 29th of January 2004 Petar's body was on its way from Serbia on a JAT flight. His body was accompanied by his father, brother and other family members, and friends. The flight landed at Heathrow at approximately 12:40 pm. The family had arranged for Wembley Funeral Services owned by Mr. Lazic, who was an acquaintance of the family for many years, to collect Petar's body. The family waited for several hours; however, there was no sign of the coffin or Wembley Funeral Services. The family were told to go home and that they would be contacted when the coffin cleared customs. At approximately 9:00 pm that evening the family received a call to say that Petar's body was in Harlesden. The family were invited to attend a warehouse in Harlesden to view Petar's body. That evening at approximately 9:30 pm Susan, together with eight other family members visited this warehouse. The coffin was opened and the family saw Petar's body for the first time. They were extremely shocked upon noticing that his nose was distorted. In addition concern, was expressed as to the attire Petar's body had been dressed in for burial. It has been alleged that there was a post-mortem conducted at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Belgrade on 28th January 2004. If this had been the case then the body would not have been dressed upon arrival in this country. In addition it is an international custom that the deceased be dressed in best, or if possible, new attire for burial. This custom was not followed in this case and the family were never consulted. It is important to note that Petar's family were never allowed to see Petar's body in Serbia. On 30th January 2004 Susan received a telephone call to inform her that Petar's body had been taken to Northwick Park Hospital. She was told to contact Anny Murphy, Dr. Dolman's officer. Later on that day Susan and her mother together with other family members, attended Northwick Park Hospital. Ms. Murphy met Petar's family in the foyer. No condolences were offered. Ms. Murphy then took us to the room where Petar's body, dressed in the same attire as the night before, was. Susan and her mother both expressed concern to Ms. Murphy about the state of Petar's nose. There was complete disregard in relation to this. Ms. Murphy provided no information as to the procedures to follow, especially no information was ever provided relating to any post-mortem being conducted in this country. The family were never informed about their basic rights or of the fact that there was to be an inquest. On 31st January 2004 Susan and her mother again attended the premises of Northwick Park Hospital were they were met by Ms. Murphy. On this occasion Susan had shown Ms. Murphy a printout of an ECG. Susan enquired as to what this document proved and Ms. Murphy promised to show it to a cardiologist and get back to her. Ms. Murphy informed Susan that Petar's heart was not with the body on the same day. Susan was traumatised by this information and did not wish her mother to suffer the same additional pain and quietly indicated that they will speak later when her mother was not present. Petar's grandmother is a woman in her seventies, with high blood pressure who had lost her first-born grandson. Susan and her mother were shocked when they saw Petar on this occasion. His clothes had been removed and there was a red cloth over his body. The coffin he lay in was different from the original coffin. Petar's grandmother touched the back of his head and it was wet which it had not been previously. She wanted to lift the cover up to see the rest of the body, but Ms. Murphy refused to allow her to do so. Both Susan and her mother also noticed a large cut next to the ear, which also had not been there previously. On the evening of 2nd February 2004, Petar's family saw Petar again in a funeral parlour in Harlesden. He was dressed in brand new clothes that the family had chosen and made up. On 4th February 2004 Petar was buried in a beautiful ceremony in Gunnersbury Cemetery. There was a huge attendance as Petar was much loved and highly missed. Susan telephoned Ms. Murphy and asked her about Petar's heart, especially in view of the fact that the Serbian documents accompanying Petar's body from Serbia state that Petar had died from heart failure. Arrangements were made for Ms. Murphy to communicate with the Institute of Forensic Medicine and a three-way conversation took place between Ms. Murphy, Susan and a Dr. Petkovic at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Dr. Petkovic stated that the British were blind and that the heart was with the body. Just as Ms. Murphy had previously praised the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Dr. Petkovic proceeded to do the same.
Comment: Ms Jones was the coroner's officer in this case and not Ms. Murphy and yet Susan did not see Ms. Jones until August 2004. Dr. Dolman refused to allow his officer to make a statement in relation to Petar's heart in order that Petar's family could proceed with legal action.
Petar's family later was to suffer a further shock in relation to the undertakers. The family were led to believe, as stated previously, that it was Wembley Funeral Services who had collected Petar's body from Heathrow Airport. The family were to discover during the legal proceedings commenced against Dr. Dolman for his failure to investigate, that Dr. Dolman's lawyers filed with the court a statement from E.C. Mills Funeral Services stating that it was they who had collected Petar's body.
Roger Mills, the director, signed the statement to this effect. As a result, Susan felt compelled to telephone Mr. Lazic to ask him who was telling the truth and what the position was in relation to who collected Petar's body from the airport. Mr. Lazic assured Susan that he would personally handle the matter. The following day, Mr. Lazic telephoned Susan and informed her that he had personally spoken to Roger Mills and he gave her the telephone number to enable her to speak to him personally which she did. Susan became increasingly frustrated with his disrespectful attitude and his refusal to answer questions relating to her son's body. Susan then contacted Customs & Excise at Heathrow Airport having reached a dead-end with Mr. Mills. She was shocked to learn that their records showed that it was Shand Air Cargo, allegedly the family's chosen funeral directors (which as stated was clearly not the case), who collected Petar's body from the airport and provided Susan with a contact number for Alitalia, who were the handling agents for JAT Airways. Susan telephoned Alitalia and enquired as to this matter. They confirmed that it was Shand Air Cargo who had collected Petar's body according to their records. A request was made for this information to be put in writing but they refused as they did not wish to be involved and suggested that Susan try to contact JAT directly. JAT initially refused to provide this information but after much insistence the documentation was provided.
This document proved that it was Shand Air Cargo who had collected Petar's body from the airport, more specifically one particular employee. Susan telephone Shand as a result and they stated that they were provided with instructions by her own chosen funeral directors, Phoenix International (which as stated above were clearly not her chosen funeral directors). They provided Susan with a contact telephone number. As a result of the lack of forthcoming specific information and the complexity, a personal visit was made to the premises of Shand. Susan and a legal colleague were shocked upon arrival to these premises. This address is an industrial estate with only a warehouse. Susan saw the vehicle that did pick up Petar from the airport.
Susan spoke to a member of staff who informed her that Petar's body had been brought to their warehouse, but no records exist as to when the body arrived at the premises; the length of time his body was there for; the reason for the body having been taken there; and the departure time of the body. The warehouse is located approximately 40 minutes from the airport. So many questions remain unanswered at this point to the greater pain on Petar's family. The only piece of information Petar's family know affirmatively is the fact that their loved one's body stayed at that warehouse overnight but the reasons why as well as additional information as stated above, presently remain unknown. to be continued coming soon ... |
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