Sister’s anguish over ‘pointless’ quiz by police

The South Yorkshire Police inquiry was launched last November after the body of Christopher Alder, 37, who died in police custody in 1998, was discovered in the mortuary at Hull Royal Infirmary. The body of a Nigerian woman, Grace Kamara, 77, had been buried in his place.

Mr Alder’s sister Janet has declined to be formally interviewed as part of the investigation, and instead was sent a list of 47 questions, which she says have left her angry and bemused.

Some cover her travel and accommodation arrangements for Mr Alder’s “funeral” in 2000, and include:

What bus company did you use?

Where did you stay?

Who attended the funeral?

Who paid for the flowers?

Miss Alder, 50, said she felt under attack and feared she may somehow be blamed for the blunder.

She also said she feared the police may try to use the massive public support her campaign for justice received against her, or to cloud the central issue of how the bodies had been mixed up.

“I feel South Yorkshire Police don’t seem to be taking into account that we are a family that has already been through a trauma and we are still left with the vision of how Christopher died.

“How can these questions be relevant to how Christopher’s body was found in Grace Kamara’s body bag? How can it be relevant what bus company was used to get to the funeral, and why were they ordering a 6ft 2in coffin for a 5ft 6in man?

“It seems there is more of an investigation going on into what I was supposed to have done. This is just compounding the grief we were going through originally and trying to deal with.”

South Yorkshire Police declined to comment on the nature of the questions but said officers still hoped to meet her as part of their inquiry.

The force said in a statement: “The South Yorkshire Police Investigation into the circumstances surrounding Christopher Alder’s body being found in Hull Royal Infirmary mortuary commenced in November last year. The investigation has been thorough and detailed and has involved interviewing a great number of people, including family members of Christopher Alder and Grace Kamara.

“South Yorkshire Police believe that Janet Alder may have valuable information that will assist the investigation and at various times throughout have sought meetings with her to discuss these issues. Ms Alder has declined to meet with officers from the enquiry team and has chosen instead to deal with matters through her legal representatives.

“Recently, following agreement with her legal representatives, a number of questions were formulated, which were intended to assist Ms Alder in providing the enquiry with any information she has that is relevant to the investigation.

“South Yorkshire Police continue to welcome a personal meeting with Ms Alder.”

Mr Alder choked to death on the floor of a Hull police station with his arms handcuffed behind his back and his trousers around his ankles.