Force still considering if woman's death was homicide

West Mercia Police is considering if the death of a 21-year-old woman in Hereford was homicide, an inquest has heard.

The body of Natasha Jade Ashby, known as Tasha, was found in August 2023 in a tent at Hereford county bus station.

A post-mortem examination showed she had died of a heroin overdose, but toxicology tests showed she was not a regular user of the drug.

The force is considering whether to investigate any potential criminality after considering new evidence and further examinations of Ashby's phones.

Her family have previously told the BBC that they were concerned the police investigation "wasn't as good as it could have been".

In the UK, homicide means unlawful killing, and can refer to murder or manslaughter.

It was revealed at a previous inquest, that the force had missed threatening voice notes sent to Ashby before she had died.

One message said she should kill herself by taking an overdose.

The voice notes were discovered by her parents and sister after her phone was given back to them by West Mercia Police.

The force admitted it had not been aware of the voice notes.

Ashby's phones have since been forensically examined by officers.

At a previous inquest, the Hereford Coroner said it was "completely unsatisfactory that the family have had to become de-facto detectives."

The inquest, held at Gardener Hall in Hereford, was told that Det Ch Insp Gareth Lougher from West Mercia Police's Major Investigations Unit had been appointed to conduct a review of the case.

It is expected to be another four weeks before his review will be released to the coroner.

Mark Thomas, solicitor for the force, said a homicide investigation was "potentially a foreseeable outcome".

James Bennett, senior coroner for Herefordshire, told the inquest that he had raised concerns before that "time is ticking by, and I can't make final decisions until we know what the position of the police is".

A full inquest into Ashby's death is scheduled to take place in April 2027.

The coroner said that would have to be delayed if the police did open a homicide investigation.

Ashby had been in care since the age of nine, living with foster parents and then in supported housing.

She was legally an adult at the time of her death, but her parents and social workers described her as vulnerable, with the mental capacity of an eight-year-old child.

Ashby's family say it's crucial that evidence is heard from the last people to see her alive.

"There is film available from seven cameras on Commercial Road in Hereford, including footage of Tasha outside the Living Room cafe on August 3rd," said Ciara Bartlam, barrister for Ashby's parents and sister.

The family have told the BBC they believe the footage might show her meeting a person who could have information about her death.

"It's not clear, and it's never been clear to the family, if this is a homicide investigation by the police," Ms Bartlam said.

"If it's not, then you can request the CCTV footage, somebody needs to be doing it."

The coroner said he would view the footage as it would not prejudice any possible police investigation.

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