A COUPLE who believe their vulnerable grandson would still be alive today were it not for “systemic failures” by social services and police have lost their campaign for an inquest into his death.
Margaret and Andrew Palmer say there are many unanswered questions surrounding the death of 21-year-old Adrian Palmer, who suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome and whose body was found in an alleyway in Tenbury in May 2006.
After two abortive murder trials, his killer Ben Murphy finally admitted Adrian’s manslaughter and was jailed for four years in December 2007. A previously adjourned inquest into his death has never been re-opened.
The Palmers’ counsel, Martin Westgate, yesterday argued there was evidence of “systemic failures” by Worcestershire County Council social services and West Mercia Police and the failure to complete the inquest amounted to a violation of human rights.
Adrian’s condition made him “socially naive” and particularly vulnerable, said the barrister, who told London’s Civil Appeal Court that, in the months before his killing, the authorities were told he had suffered death threats, harassment and bullying as well as being the victim of a serious crime.
Mr Westgate said his grandparents had asked social services to provide 24-hour support for Adrian a month before he died and argued he “fell between two stools”.
Social services took the view that crime prevention was a matter for the police, while West Mercia police thought it was up to the council to support Adrian.
Mr Westgate said as a result there was no proper system in place to protect vulnerable adults.
Alleging “serious failures of liaison” between the police and social services, Mr Westgate argued the local coroners’ refusal in May last year to re-open an inquest breached the Human Rights Act duty to fully investigate deaths where criticism is made of state authorities.
Lord Justice Moses said of Mr Palmer’s death: “This is a truly tragic case and I am very conscious that anything I say will not alleviate the suffering of the family, who are deeply concerned.”
While accepting that a coroner could enter a narrative verdict and make recommendations for the future, the judge said there had already been investigations into Adrian’s death and questioned whether an inquest would now serve any purpose.
The judge said: “It is impossible to see how resuming the inquest will take matters any further forward than they have been already. It would be quite wrong to grant permission to appeal in this case.”
Mr and Mrs Palmer, of Bromyard Road, Tenbury, were refused permission to appeal against a High Court judge’s ruling earlier this year that, despite mistakes having been made before Adrian died, there were “no systemic failures” by the police or social services.
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