LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Marc Seddon, 28-year-old trainee solicitor with Ashton- under-Lyne firm Bromley Hyde & Robinson.

Why is he in the news? Acted for the family of Sarah Ashworth, a former patient of convicted serial murderer Dr Harold Shipman, at the recent inquest into her death.

Mrs Ashworth died in Dr Shipman's presence in 1993, aged 74.

Despite the lack of an immediate post mortem, the death certificate recorded 'left ventricular failure' as the cause of death.

But, detailed investigation showed that Dr Shipman had written a prescription for Mrs Ashworth the day before her death for what would have been a fatal dose of diamorphine.

Although a later toxicological investigation proved inconclusive, the coroner's court unusually accepted similar fact evidence and recorded her death as resulting from an unlawful killing.

The similar facts accepted included Mrs Ashworth's sex and age and the fact that she lived alone, Dr Shipman's failure to call an ambulance and his advice that a post mortem should not be carried out.

Background: Completed his law degree at Staffordshire University in 1994 and legal practice course at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996.

He joined his current firm in 1998 and specialises in civil litigation.

Route to the case: 'We were instructed by the Ashworth family who are existing clients of the firm.'

Thoughts on the case: 'This was an extremely demanding and unusual case which required very sensitive handling.

The Ashworth family knew that Dr Shipman would not face further prosecution and that civil proceedings against him were not realistically viable.

The family simply want to know the truth and set the record straight.'

Dealing with the media: 'Because of the notoriety of Dr Shipman, and because this case was the first inquest on a patient since his convictions for murder, there was intense media interest in every aspect of it.

The family's instructions were to limit the exposure as much as possible and I found that, in general, the media accepted this and dealt with the family with a good deal of compassion and respect.'

Sue Allen