Faulty generator is blamed for deaths of Oswestry 'soul mates'

The bodies of Juliet Susan Miller, 50, and Christopher Dean Bevan, 45, were found on February 24 at the derelict Gate House on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, Oswestry.

Assistant coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Joanne Lees, gave a ruling of accidental death at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

She said opiate toxicity was also a contributing factor to Mr Bevan’s death.

The toxicology report showed both had Class A dugs in their systems, including cocaine, heroin and methadone.

Mrs Lees said she’d heard from Jane Wellings, a close friend of the couple, who described them as “soul mates” that had been together for more than 20 years and shared a love of dogs. Jane Wellings raised concerns about the welfare of the couple,” she said.

“A police officer responded to the concerns and found two people on the first floor, now known to be Juliet Miller and Christopher Bevan.

“There was a generator in a downstairs room and drug paraphernalia in the room where the bodies were located.”

She said Mr Bevan had 75 per cent carboxyhemoglobin in his blood while Miss Miller had 70 per cent – both figures were in the range associated with death and fatalities due to exposure to carbon monoxide.

“On the balance of probabilities this was an accidental death,” she added. “Given that the generator was still half full, it is likely that it was poisoning from a faulty generator.”

The couple were last seen in Old Chapel Pharmacy in Oswestry picking up their methadone prescriptions which reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other drugs.

Mr Bevan, who was also prescribed diazepam for anxiety and depression, collected his last prescription on February 15 and Miss Miller was seen picking hers up a day earlier, but neither were seen again the court heard.

They both had sons from previous relationships but had lost touch over the years.