‘frustration’ as Tash Ashby inquest adjourned

Herefordshire’s coroner has expressed frustration at being continually “drip-fed” fresh information relating to the death of a troubled young woman in a tent in Hereford two and a half years ago.

At the third pre-inquest hearing over the death, from heroin toxicity, of 21-year-old care leaver Natasha “Tash” Ashby, Coroner James Bennett said the fresh information, including a voicemail sent by Tash to her sister, “is coming to light even at this late stage”.

He found this “massively frustrating”, adding: “I can’t see how we can proceed with the inquest as planned in March.”

Noting the work of Tash’s parents and their solicitor Ciara Bartlam, he said: “It’s completely unsatisfactory that family members have become de facto detectives.”

It would take “months” for the police to analyse the phones, SIM cards and messages, as well as CCTV footage, while the roles of Tash’s “associates” at the time of her death “needs to be revisited”.

“The two men that are involved in the voicemail that’s come to light have not been spoken to about that,” including one who as a result, “has further been put in the spotlight”, Mr Bennett said.

The final verdict of the eventual full inquest into her death could be suicide, manslaughter, or a narrative conclusion, he said, adding: “There is potential for a jury.”

Ms Bartlam said on this: “I would also like to throw into the mix here, ‘murder’, the intention not being known, rather than just manslaughter.”

Tash’s parents Tony and Sue indicated at the hearing they agreed with Mr Bennett’s suggestion to adjourn the case and have a further pre-inquest review hearing in four months’ time, with a four-week full inquest “window” some four months later.