Pre-inquest hearing held over Laura Winham death

Laura Winham, from Woking, is thought to have died in 2017

A pre-inquest hearing into the death of a woman whose body lay in a flat for more than three years has heard that a report into agencies' involvement with her is "critical".

Laura Winham, 38, who had schizophrenia, is thought to have died in Woking, Surrey, in November 2017.

A safeguarding adults review (SAR) was conducted in order to establish what agencies could have done differently and submitted to the court at the beginning of April.

Barrister Kate O'Raghallaigh, acting on behalf of Ms Winham's family at the coroner's court in Woking, proposed that the review's author should give evidence during the inquest, "given the critical nature of the report".

Ms Winham, who had been referred to social care twice in the years leading up to her death, was found at her social housing flat in Woking, Surrey in May 2021.

Her family has previously said they were unable to maintain contact with her after years of schizophrenia caused her to believe they would harm her.

Enhanced inquest

Dr Karen Henderson, assistant coroner for Surrey, said she would "keep an open mind" as to whether the inquest would be an Article 2 inquest.

The enhanced investigations are held in cases where the state or its agents have failed to protect the deceased against a human threat or other risk.

The full inquest is expected to take place later this year, although a date is yet to be set in light of new submissions for witnesses.

These include a former employee of New Vision Homes, which previously managed the flat Ms Winham lived in, as well as a clergyman that she had been in touch with.

The Department for Work and Pensions, Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council have been identified as interested persons in the inquest.

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