Nicola Bulley inquest: Live updates as first day of inquest into death of mother-of-two in River Wyre begins
Ms Bulley, 45, went missing after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school, then taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27. Her phone, still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench overlooking the water.
Ms Bulley, a mortgage adviser originally from near Chelmsford but living in Inskip, was immediately deemed a “high risk” missing person, sparking a huge police search operation, with hundreds of local search volunteers and intense media and public interest.
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Hide AdPrivate underwater search specialists were also called in by her family amid a conspiratorial social media frenzy fuelling waves of sightseers and content creators visiting the scene. Both police and media faced criticism after her body was found in the river around a mile farther downstream from the bench, on February 19.
Police had urged people not to speculate about the disappearance and maintained from early on there were no suspicious circumstances and that Ms Bulley may have gone into the water due to an “issue” with her springer spaniel dog, Willow.
The inquest, expected to last two days, will begin at the County Hall, Preston, before Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire. Follow the latest updates below.
Nicola Bulley inquest as coroner probes mum-of-two’s death - latest updates
Key Events
- Evidence surrounding Nicola Bulley’s death to be heard over two days at County Hall in Preston
- The mother-of-two died of drowning, hearing hears
- There is no suggestion of any foul play according to the experts called to speak on Monday morning
Nicola Bulley’s partner arrives
As people continue to file into the chamber at County Hall, Nicola Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell is the latest to take his seat.
Under way
Lancashire’s Senior Coroner Dr James Adeley begins with a message to the family and friends of Nicola.
“I am sorry you attend the court in these circumstances.”
He then clarifies what he should refer to the mum-of-two as during proceedings, with the family requesting she is called “Nikki” over the next couple of days.
Social media
Dr Adeley makes it clear that he will be dealing in facts of the case - with the hearing in no way designed to address any social media theories.
It will also not deal with the Lancashire Police investigation. That is the the subject of a separate inquiry.
Extra security
Dr Adeley confirms extra security measures are in place at the inquest, given the unprecedented level of social media interest in the case in January and Februrary.
He’s also taken the unusual step of warning anyone who does disrupt the inquest they may be in contempt of court.
Dr Armour’s evidence
A warning at this point that some detail in this feed may be extremely sensitive as it will go into detail about Nicola Bulley’s death.
Dr Armour says that in her examination Nicola’s face, particualrly her forehead, and hair were covered in mud.
She had a wound to the bridge of her nose and eye but evidence suggests that came post mortem.
More from Dr Armour
Nicola had a very small amount of alcohol in her system, Dr Armour continues, but it’s consistent with a post mortem process involving bacteria.
“At the time of her death she had no alcohol in her bloodstream,” asks Dr Adeley. “That’s my opinion,” confirms Dr Armour.
Cause of death
Dr Armour concludes that the cause of death based on her evidence is drowning.
“She was alive when she entered the water.”
No indication she was assaulted or harmed or of any third party involvement, confirms Dr Armour.
Next witness
PC Matthew Thackray of Lancashire Police is the next to give evidence as an underwater search specialist. A police diver of eight years experience.