A doctor hid her dead mother's body in a freezer for 29 years, fearing the death would spark an immigration inquiry.
Former GP Parvis Irani thought Indian-born Gulbai Murzan was an illegal immigrant when she died in 1980. So helped by sister Daulat, she wrapped the 79-year-old in a plastic sheet, bought a chest-freezer and put her in it.
Worried about "professional embarrassment" she kept the secret to her grave, despite learning some years later her mum had in fact been living legally in the country after arriving from Bombay in 1973.
Daulat, known as Dot, finally revealed Mrs Murzan was still in the garage last May - a year after her sister passed away. The 84-year-old was questioned under caution by police who decided not to press charges.
Yesterday a coroner gave a verdict of death by natural causes after tests revealed Mrs Murzan had died of a heart attack in Sidcup, Kent. Bexley coroner Dr Roy Palmer said: "Parvis believed her mother had remained in the UK illegally. "She had just qualified as a doctor and was concerned that if they reported the death it may have some impact on her career. It is a perplexing case."
The postmortem had to be delayed because Mrs Murzan had not fully defrosted. Miss Irani revealed her secret to a solicitor when she made her will. The lawyer immediately called in the coroner.
No comments:
Post a Comment