Grandmother, 64, was stabbed to death with a fork during burglary

Grandmother, 64, was stabbed to death with a fork during bungled burglary, new inquest finds as her daughter calls for murder case to be reopened

• Police say the fork found under Doreen Morris’ body was the murder weapon 

A 64-year-old grandmother was murdered when she was stabbed to death with a fork 29 years ago, a fresh inquest has heard.

Doreen Morris, 64, was found dead by police after she suffered horrific burns when a blaze ripped through her home but a post-mortem later revealed she died before the fire started – and detectives believed it was a bungled burglary.

Her mystery death remained unsolved since March 1994 and her family fought for an inquest to take place with Mrs Morris’ daughter now calling for the criminal investigation into her mother’s death to be re-opened.

Suspect Joseph Carl Westbury was charged with murder but was later cleared by a jury at Chester Crown Court in 1996.

Another man was arrested in connection to her murder but there were no convictions.

Doreen Morris was stabbed to death in her home with a fork 29 years ago

Mrs Morris’ death in Holyhead, Anglesey, was recorded as ‘not ascertained’ at an inquest following her death.

But her daughter Audrey Fraser spent years battling for it to be changed to unlawful killing.

Coroner Kate Sutherland reopened the inquest last year and her findings and conclusion have now been revealed.

The inquest heard Mr Westbury, known as Carl, confessed to wife Emma that he had been at the property during the burglary.

But he claimed accomplice Stuart Queen stabbed Mrs Morris and denied being responsible for her murder.

The coroner found despite his claims to his wife – it was Mr Westbury who stabbed the grandmother in her own home.

Giving evidence, Mr Queen, who now lives in Saudi Arabia, said he was not involved in the burglary and did not play any part in her death.

Coroner Ms Sutherland found the pair went to the bungalow with the intention of burgling it.

She said: ‘Mr Queen went up on the roof whilst Mr Westbury broke in through the back door, smashing the glass.

‘Once inside the property Mr Westbury had a confrontation with Mrs Morris where he bit her ear, stabbed her in the neck with a fork.

‘Together, they removed property and set the bungalow ablaze.’

The inquest heard Mr Westbury took his own life in 2016.

The fork that was found under Doreen Morris’ body has been identified as the murder weapon

Doreen’s family are calling for the criminal investigation into her death to be reopened 

Ms Sutherland concluded that Mrs Morris died ‘having sustained traumatic injuries from being stabbed with a fork.’

She said: ‘The evidence is indicative of murder, and I am satisfied that the appropriate conclusion of the inquest into the death of Doreen Morris is unlawful killing.’

Daughter Ms Fraser has praised the ‘correct’ verdict and is now calling for the criminal investigation into her mother’s death to be re-opened.

She said: ‘After 29 years I now have the correct verdict for my mother she was unlawfully killed.’

After the inquest, a North Wales Police spokesman said: ‘We will now review and consider the findings of the inquest.’

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