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Becky Godden farmland grave: Narrative verdict recorded Becky Godden farmland grave: Narrative verdict recorded
(about 1 hour later)
A woman whose body was found on Cotswolds farmland probably died "an unnatural and violent death" an inquest has heard.A woman whose body was found on Cotswolds farmland probably died "an unnatural and violent death" an inquest has heard.
Becky Godden, from Swindon, was last seen in the town in December 2002 aged 20. Her family believed she was living in the Bristol area after that. The body of Becky Godden was discovered after Christopher Halliwell led police, investigating the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, to the field in 2011.
The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court was told the medical cause of death was unascertained but probably caused unlawfully by a third party.The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court was told the medical cause of death was unascertained but probably caused unlawfully by a third party.
A narrative verdict was recorded.A narrative verdict was recorded.
The inquest was told Miss Godden was buried in a shallow grave at Baxter's Farm, Fyfield, in Gloucestershire. The court heard the last sighting of Miss Godden, from Swindon, was by a police officer on 27 December 2002 in the Manchester Road area of Swindon.
Her family did not know where she was and thought she was living in the Bristol area.
It was not until police knocked on their door on what would have been her 29th birthday - 4 April 2011 - that they discovered the truth.
Broke contactBroke contact
The Oxfordshire Coroner, Darren Salter, heard Miss Godden was buried in a shallow grave at Baxter's Farm, Fyfield, in Gloucestershire.
It is believed she died sometime between the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003, the court was told.It is believed she died sometime between the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003, the court was told.
Swindon taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, 49, led detectives to the field during the murder investigation of Sian O'Callaghan in 2011.
Miss Godden's remains, which had been there for several years, were incomplete with the skull, arms and feet not present.Miss Godden's remains, which had been there for several years, were incomplete with the skull, arms and feet not present.
She had turned to prostitution after becoming addicted to heroin and broke contact with her family after saying she could not put her mother, Karen Edwards, through the pain of watching her succumb to drugs. She had turned to prostitution after becoming addicted to heroin and broke contact with her family after saying she could not put her mother through the pain of watching her succumb to drugs.
Her family had previously paid for private rehabilitation treatment in an effort to help her "get clean".Her family had previously paid for private rehabilitation treatment in an effort to help her "get clean".
The last positive sighting of Miss Godden was by a police officer on 27 December 2002 in the Manchester Road area of Swindon. Speaking outside court her mother, Karen Edwards, said the verdict meant they would never know what happened.
"When they handed me back Becky's remains I was told not to open the box which I wouldn't have done anyway.
"I didn't realise how little there was in that box of my daughter.
"That was hard, really hard to hear all those little details again," she added.
'Guidelines breached''Guidelines breached'
Halliwell was jailed for life for the murder of Miss O'Callaghan but a senior Wiltshire officer's failure to follow the rules meant the murder charge in Miss Godden's case had to be dropped.Halliwell was jailed for life for the murder of Miss O'Callaghan but a senior Wiltshire officer's failure to follow the rules meant the murder charge in Miss Godden's case had to be dropped.
A High Court judge ruled the admissions father-of-three Halliwell made during a three-hour period on the day of his arrest were inadmissible because Det Supt Steve Fulcher breached guidelines governing the interviewing of suspects.A High Court judge ruled the admissions father-of-three Halliwell made during a three-hour period on the day of his arrest were inadmissible because Det Supt Steve Fulcher breached guidelines governing the interviewing of suspects.
The detective, who was leading the hunt for Miss O'Callaghan, failed to caution Halliwell and denied him a solicitor.The detective, who was leading the hunt for Miss O'Callaghan, failed to caution Halliwell and denied him a solicitor.
The ruling by Mrs Justice Cox meant that Wiltshire Police had no other evidence against Halliwell to link him to Miss Godden's death and the murder charge was withdrawn.The ruling by Mrs Justice Cox meant that Wiltshire Police had no other evidence against Halliwell to link him to Miss Godden's death and the murder charge was withdrawn.