Dr David Kelly’s body exhumed by his family after radical conspiracy theorists threatened to dig it up
The Iraq war weapons inspector has been cremated in order to prevent from any future heartache or body snatchers
THE body of weapons inspector David Kelly was exhumed by his family after conspiracy theorists threatened to dig it up.
A group called the Justice for Kelly group placed a card next to the grave demanding an inquest into his 2003 suicide.
They reckon he was killed by shadowy forces rather than "by his own hand" and said the only way to find answers was by him being exhumed and a coroner holding an inquest.
Dr Kelly's wife Janice was said to be appalled by the group's campaign and felt his grave had been "desecrated" by it.
The family arranged for Dr Kelly's remains to be exhumed to put a stop to it.
It is believed he was cremated following the exhumation.
Dr Kelly, 59, was found dead in a wood in 2003 shortly after being named as the source of a BBC report claiming the Government "sexed up" a crucial dossier about whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
His death led to the Hutton inquiry which found he had committed suicide, but there was no inquest.
Family sources said the Justice for Kelly group placed a placard next to his grave at St Mary's parish church, in Longworth, Oxfordshire, calling for an inquest.
A person close to the family said: "They did the placard, they used to leave notes on the grave and they would have vigils.
"Janice hated it, she felt it was a desecration, and asked the police to get them to stop."
Gerrard Jonas, of Justice for Kelly, thought to have 11 members, said: "We have been at this for 4½ years. We did put placards, one placard, asking for a coroner's inquest.
"There has been no desecration. About three years ago Mrs Kelly sent the police round to me one Saturday night. They started questioning me.
"We were going to go for an exhumation licence ourselves. Earlier this year, around March, I said to the coroner, if you can't help us we might have to pursue an exhumation, and the next moment the exhumation went ahead. What does that tell you?
"Why after 14 years would someone want to do this? I think it's a bit more than Mrs Kelly."
The family source denied any connection with the state, saying: "Janice just hated what was happening."
Thames Valley Police said: "The body was exhumed a few months ago at the request of his family."
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800.