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National
Sophie Doughty

'Not knowing kills us': Death of tragic mum Maureen Walker remains a mystery almost four years on

Mystery still surrounds the death of a loving mum almost four years after she died in hospital after suffering serious head injuries in a Newcastle home.

Maureen Walker passed away five days after being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) from a house in the West End of the city, in September 2019.

Doctors told the 34-year-old's mum, June Hunter, her beloved daughter had ‘catastrophic’ head injuries.

Read more: Friend of 'lovely' Newcastle student murdered by boyfriend haunted by way he died

A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm but has since been told he faces no further action.

Maureen Walker (Newcastle Chronicle)

But now the Chronicle can reveal that a Domestic Homicide Review has been carried out to examine the circumstances leading to Maureen's death, and Northumbria Police is carrying out a review of its investigation.

And today as her desperate wait for answers continues June has told the Chronicle of her agony at not knowing how her daughter came to die or why.

The 64-year-old, from Benwell, said: "It's devastating, it kills us not knowing what happened in the last hours of my daughter's life.

June Hunter mum of Maureen Walker (Newcastle Chronicle)

"Whatever happened to her in that house, the one person she would have shouted for was her mum. It kills us every day, not knowing is a nightmare.

"Maureen was one in a million, she would light up a room by walking in. She was my best friend, we spoke every single day. I feel lost without her."

Maureen was a devoted mum to her now 18-year-old son and spoke to June every day.

Atkinson Road in Benwell, Newcastle (Newcastle Chronicle)

On the morning of Sunday September 8 2019, June was told her daughter had been taken to hospital with a split lip.

But when she telephoned the RVI the grandmother was told things were much more serious and she was asked to come in immediately.

When June arrived she was told her daughter was "unresponsive" when she was brought into the hospital.

Medics said Maureen had been taken to the operating theatre with "catastrophic brain injuries".

Atkinson Road in Benwell. (Newcastle Chronicle)

After surgery Maureen was put on life support.

Her loved ones spent the next five days waiting and hoping she would pull through, before taking the agonising decision to allow medics to turn off the machines keeping her alive.

June discovered Maureen had been taken to hospital by ambulance from a house on Atkinson Road, in Benwell.

And she says the property was cordoned off by police for around two days, as detectives from Northumbria Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team launched an investigation into her death.

Tragically the house is just yards away from where June lives.

Northumbria Police has confirmed that the investigation into Maureen's death is being reviewed.

A spokesman for the force said: "First and foremost, our thoughts continue to be with Maureen’s family following her tragic death in 2019.

“An investigation was carried out at the time but there was insufficient evidence to pursue a criminal prosecution. A report was subsequently submitted to the coroner.

“The case is subject to an investigative review and should any new lines of enquiry or further evidence emerge as part of this process then we will assess these along with all the other material which is available."

June says she will not rest until she knows what happened to her daughter.

"It just feels like something doesn't add up," she said. "I just want justice and and I will fight to the end until I get justice. I'm leaving no stone unturned. To my last dying breath I will fight for my daughter.

"If I knew what had happened to her I might get some closure."

Meanwhile Maureen's family are rallying round her son, who has recently started university.

June added: "He's done really well for himself. She would have been so proud. She will be the proudest angel in heaven".

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