Inquest on Great Barr pensioner found dead in water
An inquest has opened into a pensioner who was found dead in open water at a nature reserve on New Year's Eve after an extensive search by police.
Julie Middleton, aged 73 and a retired school secretary, was believed to have left her house on Queslett Road in Great Barr at some point overnight on Sunday and was reported missing just after 9am the following day, Smethwick Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Bonita Poole, investigating officer, said: "This lady was known to have been suffering from depression. On Monday December 30 her husband reported her missing after she left home."
Teams of specialist officers had been searching areas of open ground and woodland in the Great Barr area when they came across her body in open water at Queslett Nature Reserve near to her home.
The inquest was adjourned until April 8 for further investigations.
