Remains in mix-up over grave those of Nigerian

Mrs Kamara’s remains were identified yesterday after being exhumed from a grave in Hull that was supposed to contain the body of black former paratrooper Christopher Alder, 37, who died in police custody in 1998.

A criminal inquiry was launched last November after the 77-year-old’s family visited a hospital mortuary to prepare her body for burial and were told it could not be found. Hull Council and health officials then revealed they were still holding Mr Alder’s corpse and the wrong body had been released to his family ahead of his funeral in November 2000.

Detective Supt Richard Fewkes, who is leading the investigation for South Yorkshire Police, said: “We are able to confirm today, following the exhumation at Hull’s Northern Cemetery overnight on Tuesday, 21 February, that the remains contained within the grave are those of Grace Kamara and this is established beyond any doubt.”

The South Yorkshire Police investigation is continuing.

Christine Omoregie, a friend of Mrs Kamara’s and her family’s representative in Hull, said prayers over the grave before the exhumation.

Mrs Omoregie has said she would like Mrs Kamara’s remains to be re-interred in the same plot, and has the agreement of Mr Alder’s sister Janet, who owns it.

The council would, however, need a new licence from the Ministry of Justice for this to happen after originally applying for permission to re-inter the remains in Hull’s Eastern Cemetery.

Miss Alder said: “She deserves a proper funeral now and should be buried in the grave she has been in all these years.”

Mr Alder was finally laid to rest after a private ceremony on February 9.