This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/7038233.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Judge mistress storms from court Judge mistress storms from court
(10 minutes later)
The mistress of a judge who died in a fireball in a garden shed walked out of an inquest as she gave evidence.The mistress of a judge who died in a fireball in a garden shed walked out of an inquest as she gave evidence.
Kerry Sparrow, 38, claimed she was heavily tranquillised when she gave a statement to the police over the death of Andrew Chubb, aged 58. Kerry Sparrow, 38, refused to read a statement she gave to the police about the death of Andrew Chubb, 58, in 2001.
She told the Bridgwater inquest into the 2001 death she could not read the statement because it was untrue. Miss Sparrow, who won a court battle to get a second inquest into the judge's death heard, said she could not read the statement as it was untrue.
"I did sign it," she told the coroner. "But I didn't read it because I was so heavily tranquillised." "I did sign it," she told the Somerset inquest. "But I didn't read it because I was so heavily tranquillised."
She also claimed she had been "bullied" by officers into giving the statement, just a week after his death.She also claimed she had been "bullied" by officers into giving the statement, just a week after his death.
Miss Sparrow then walked out of the courtroom, saying: "I can't do this."Miss Sparrow then walked out of the courtroom, saying: "I can't do this."
Forensic pathologistForensic pathologist
Earlier on Wednesday the hearing was told the doctor who held a post-mortem examination on the judge could not say whether he was dead or not before the fire in the shed.Earlier on Wednesday the hearing was told the doctor who held a post-mortem examination on the judge could not say whether he was dead or not before the fire in the shed.
Judge Chubb died in Somerset in July 2001, with the cause of death put as burning following the post-mortem test. An inquest found it was accidental. Judge Chubb died in Somerset in July 2001, with the cause of death put as burning following the post-mortem test. The first inquest found it was accidental.
The second inquest is currently being held, after Miss Sparrow won a High Court battle to reopen the case. The inquest is likely to end on Friday
A forensic pathologist criticised the results of the post-mortem examination. At the latest inquest, a forensic pathologist criticised the results of the post-mortem examination.
Dr Hugh White told the inquest at Glastonbury Town Hall on Wednesday that they were "insufficient", "confusing" and "did not make sense".Dr Hugh White told the inquest at Glastonbury Town Hall on Wednesday that they were "insufficient", "confusing" and "did not make sense".
The Home Office forensic pathologist said it would be impossible, from the evidence in the findings, to come to the conclusion that Mr Chubb had burned to death.The Home Office forensic pathologist said it would be impossible, from the evidence in the findings, to come to the conclusion that Mr Chubb had burned to death.
The hospital post-mortem examination carried out after the death was conducted by Dr Charlotte Fisher, in 2001.The hospital post-mortem examination carried out after the death was conducted by Dr Charlotte Fisher, in 2001.
'Burned areas'
Dr White said: "While it is possible that [Chubb] has, as Dr Fisher concluded, died of burning, I feel there is insufficient information in her post-mortem report to find this conclusion.Dr White said: "While it is possible that [Chubb] has, as Dr Fisher concluded, died of burning, I feel there is insufficient information in her post-mortem report to find this conclusion.
"I would therefore disagree with her cause of death and find that her conclusion should have been unascertained.""I would therefore disagree with her cause of death and find that her conclusion should have been unascertained."
'Burned areas'
Dr Fisher told the inquest that she could not rule out another cause of death or that Mr Chubb was dead beforehand.Dr Fisher told the inquest that she could not rule out another cause of death or that Mr Chubb was dead beforehand.
Mrs Chubb and Ms Sparrow
She said it was impossible to draw definitive conclusions, claiming the body was too badly burned and that she would not have carried out the examination had she been told there were suspicious circumstances.She said it was impossible to draw definitive conclusions, claiming the body was too badly burned and that she would not have carried out the examination had she been told there were suspicious circumstances.
"When I saw the body I noted the most extensively burned areas were the feet and lower legs," she said. "I puzzled, however, over the hands for some time and saw that they had been burned at the same time. I concluded that they had been clasped together during an explosion. "When I saw the body I noted the most extensively burned areas were the feet and lower legs," she said.
"I puzzled, however, over the hands for some time and saw that they had been burned at the same time. I concluded that they had been clasped together during an explosion.
"I was therefore comfortable with the findings that the death was accidental and as a result of burning."I was therefore comfortable with the findings that the death was accidental and as a result of burning.
"I cannot rule out another cause of death or that he was dead prior to the fire.""I cannot rule out another cause of death or that he was dead prior to the fire."
Judge Chubb's mistress of two years, Kerry Sparrow, a legal executive, last year successfully challenged an inquest held in December 2001.
She argued there was "a lack of sufficient inquiry" into the death at the first hearing and claimed the police investigation was flawed.She argued there was "a lack of sufficient inquiry" into the death at the first hearing and claimed the police investigation was flawed.
The case continues.The case continues.