'A tremendous milestone': Inquest opens into presumed death of Leeds woman who vanished 34 years ago
The mother-of-two’s body has never been found
The sister of a Leeds woman who went missing 34 years ago has said the opening of an inquest into her presumed death is a “tremendous milestone”.
Mother-of-two Patricia Hall, 39, of Pudsey, vanished in 1992.
Her husband Keith was tried for her murder but was found not guilty in 1994, after an alleged taped confession that he had strangled her was ruled inadmissible by a judge.
Mrs Hall’s body has never been found.
On Thursday, an inquest into Mrs Hall’s death was opened and adjourned at Wakefield Coroner’s Court by coroner Oliver Longstaff.
Mr Longstaff explained how a fresh application to hold an inquest had been made to him by Mrs Hall’s sister, Christine Weatherhead, and he had then successfully applied for permission to the deputy chief coroner, Judge Georgina Sharkey.
The coroner outlined how two courts had made orders over the last 34 years on the basis that Mrs Hall was dead.
This was a 2001 ruling that granted Keith Hall a divorce, and a 2006 High Court ruling which granted probate to her two sons.
Mr Longstaff told the hearing that it was “a very unusual set of circumstances that has led us to be here”.
He said that Mrs Hall was last seen on January 25 1992 “when family members spent the day in Ripon”.
The coroner said there have been no sightings of her since, and no “circumstantial evidence” that she is alive, including no attempts to use her bank accounts.
He said no attempt had been made by Mrs Hall to “contact any family member or social acquaintances”.
Mr Longstaff said: “There is reason to suspect that Mrs Hall’s abrupt and complete disappearance is a consequence of her having died a violent or unnatural death.”
The coroner said that Keith Hall had been contacted about Thursday’s opening hearing but was “unable to make arrangements to attend”.
Adjourning the hearing to a date to be fixed, he said the court will be inviting Mr Hall to provide a statement.
Speaking outside the court on Thursday, Mrs Weatherhead cried as she said: “We’ve tried so many times over the last 34 years, it’s quite a tremendous milestone.
“To finally get this day is hard to put into words.”
She said: “I’ve always said that she would never have left her family – certainly not her two boys.
“Something untoward has happened to Pat and hopefully this inquest will give us that evidence about what may have happened.”
Mrs Weatherhead said: “Pat was my big sister and she was just like a mother to all of us.
“She was always there. She was always supportive. She was always a buoyant, bright, bubbly person.”
She added: “I want that recognition for Pat, in that she was a person, she was a mum, she was a sister and a daughter.
“I think after 34 years she deserves that recognition. It’s the least everybody can do for her.”
Mrs Weatherhead added: “For 34 years, we have fought the judicial system to have Pat acknowledged not as missing, or just a number on a case file, but as a kind, loving, devoted mother, sister, and daughter who would never have left her sons, Andrew and Graeme, or her family.
“Pat was known for her warmth and generosity, always putting her family first.
“Her absence has left a void that has never been filled.”
Keith Hall was charged with murder after he allegedly admitted on tape to an undercover policewoman, with whom he had started a romance, that he had strangled his wife and disposed of her body in an incinerator.
At his 1994 trial, the judge, Mr Justice Waterhouse, ruled that the tape, which was obtained after Keith Hall answered a “lonely hearts” advertisement in a local newspaper, was inadmissible as evidence.
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jones, West Yorkshire Police lead for Specialist Crime and Criminal Justice, said on Thursday: “Our Major Investigation Review Team conducted a thorough cold case review into the disappearance of Patricia Hall, which concluded last year without uncovering any new lines of inquiries.
“Throughout the review, we remained in contact with Patricia’s family to offer support and keep them informed, and they were advised when the review came to an end.
“The case remains unsolved, and we continue to appeal for any new information that may help provide Patricia’s family with the answers they deserve.”