Police to exhume 3 more bodies

MURDER SQUAD detectives are planning to exhume three more bodies as part of their inquiry into a GP accused of killing four of his patients.

Six patients of Dr Harold Shipman, 52, have already been removed from graves in Tameside, Greater Manchester, as part of an investigation into at least 77 deaths.

The new exhumations are planned to take place during the next three weeks.

Detectives also want to examine the remains of Marie Fernley, 53, who was buried in her native Malta after her death in Tameside three years ago. Mrs Fernley's exhumation would take the total number of graves opened to allow forensic science testing to 10.

The family of Chrissey Kitchen, of Hyde, a former patient of Dr Shipman who died four years ago, have already made arrangements for a priest to attend her grave for exhumation prayers. Mrs Kitchen's son, Joe, said: "I think we've reached the stage where the more information that comes out the better. We need to know one way or another."

Dr Shipman, who ran a one-man practice in Hyde town centre, is remanded in custody charged with murdering a former Tameside mayoress, Kathleen Grundy, 81, and forging her pounds 300,000 will to make himself the sole beneficiary.

He is also accused of murdering Joan Melia and Winifred Mellor, both 73, and Bianka Pomfret, 49.