Bags of evidence, but case collapses

Published on 26/01/2013 00:00

It WAS an open and shut case for police after a woman was seen with “blood” dripping from her car boot – until they found it was a broken bottle of cough syrup.

Grandmother-of-five Pat Major said she was shocked to be stopped by officers on suspicion of having a dead body in her car.

The 60-year-old was spotted by a bystander in an Asda car park stuffing something into her boot before driving off.

The shopper followed Mrs Major as she drove away in Newton Abbot, Devon, before spotting a red liquid leaking from the boot and calling 999.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they received a call from a concerned woman at about 5:25pm.

When officer arrived they discovered the liquid was blackcurrant cough mixture and the “blood-soaked body” was squashed bags of shopping.