The dose of Coproxamol was an overdose over therapeutic levels but not, by a factor of three, a lethal dose. If Dr Kelly did take 29 tablets, why were the contents of his stomach consistent with only one-fifth of a tablet? If the suggestion is that Dr Kelly vomited, then where is the vomit analysis that shows this? No analysis was presented to Hutton. Clearly, also, if the stomach contents were vomited up, this would reduce the amount of the drug in Dr Kelly's body.
The arguments discussed by Professor Milroy are only a small part of the picture. There is considerable circumstantial evidence surrounding the disappearance, death, and discovery of Dr Kelly that also raise suspicions. I have written a detailed letter to Nicholas Gardiner (the Oxfordshire coroner) outlining my concerns over this.
The fact that Dr Kelly's ulnar artery was completely severed makes it even less likely that bleeding would have been sufficient to cause his death, as a small, completely severed, wrist artery quickly retracts and narrows, promoting blood-clotting. The scratches to the wrist Professor Milroy refers to neither support suicide nor refute the possibility of murder made to look like suicide.
We did not ignore "the toxic dose" of Coproxamol (Letters, February 12): we referred to the toxicologist's statement that the amount of each drug component found in the blood was a third of what is normally considered fatal. As for "ischaemic heart disease", while Dr Hunt, in his report to the Hutton inquiry, noted some hardening of the arteries - common in men of Dr Kelly's age - he stated he could not find evidence of a heart attack.
At the Hutton inquiry, crucial pieces of forensic evidence were missing: it is not clear whether or not a full battery of tests was done on the lungs, the blood, the heart and the soil. Dr Hunt's report, for instance, did not provide information on an estimated residual blood volume. If Dr Kelly lost significantly less than five pints of blood, then haemorrhage could not have been the cause of death.
If people are to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Dr Kelly did die in the manner described to Hutton, a full set of test results should be produced - preferably at a full inquest where a jury is called, witnesses subpoenaed and evidence given on oath.
Dr Andrew Rouse
And five other medical specialists
Wrist-slashing suicide is so rare that the Office of National Statistics does not report it as a specific cause of death; it is subsumed into "suicide and self-inflicted injury by cutting and piercing instruments"; there are about five male cases a year. All Professor Milroy has to do is to produce a single actual example, to show that even the very unusual does happen from time to time.