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Margate: Body of Jennifer Lawrence in Athelstan Road flat not found for more than week

A woman who died in her flat was not found for at least a week, an inquest has heard.

Jennifer Lawrence, 58, was found dead in her bedroom on Saturday, February 24 in Margate after her landlord raised a welfare concern.

Mr Rajan had not heard from Ms Lawrence since her January payment and had made several unsuccessful attempts to contact her.

Athelstan Road, Margate. Pic: Google street views (2442943)
Athelstan Road, Margate. Pic: Google street views (2442943)

Ms Lawrence lived alone in Athelstan Road, and rarely had any visitors, her landlord said.

When Mr Rajan had last spoken to Ms Lawrence, she had mentioned she had been feeling unwell.

Upon finding her, rigor mortis had already set in, and a post mortem examination found the cause of death to be unascertained.

It is thought that Ms Lawrence's body had not been found for a week or more.

Pathologist Dr Konstantinos Skendros said decomposition made it hard to assess different organs.

He said: "The post mortem was limited by decomposition. It made the post mortem difficult.
"There were no external signs of violence."

Dr Skendros commented that on the balance of probabilities she died of natural causes.

Ms Lawrence was found on her back with her hands across her chest and stomach, as if she had been sitting on the edge of her bed and had fallen backwards, PC Ian Kilpatrick said.

It was PC Kilpatrick who found Ms Lawrence.

Speaking at the hearing, he said he felt there to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Ms Lawrence is survived by a brother, Philip, and a sister, Jean.

In tribute to Ms Lawrence, Mr Lawrence said: "I just want to say that she was my younger sister and I loved her and miss her.

"My older sister would be here, but she's too upset."

At an inquest on Wednesday, June 6, at Canterbury Magistrates' Court, assistant coroner concluded that Ms Lawrence had died of natural causes.

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