TWO WOMEN 'CAUGHT TRYING TO SMUGGLE DEAD RELATIVE ON TO JET'

[Daanyeer]

Two women 'caught trying to smuggle dead relative on to passenger jet at Liverpool airport'


By Daily Mail Reporter
06th April 2010

Two women have been arrested after they allegedly tried to smuggle their dead relative on to a passenger plane.

In a scene reminiscent of the film 'Weekend at Bernie's', the corpse was pushed in on a wheelchair - complete with sunglasses - to try to fool staff at the check in desk at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, it is claimed.
The man's body had been driven to the airport in a taxi after the women told the driver he was asleep.

The women, aged 41 and 66, were travelling with two young children and arrived by taxi for the easyJet flight to Berlin at around 11am on Saturday.
Astoundingly, the party had pre-booked assistance for their 'disabled' relative, and airport worker Andrew Millea was waiting for their taxi with a wheelchair.
Shocked Mr Millea, 46, said: 'The party had booked extra assistance in advance, so I was already waiting outside with a wheelchair when they arrived.

'When the family pulled-up in a minibus-style taxi, the older lady told me assistance was needed for her elderly father, who was sat in the front seat of the cab.

'She told me that he was elderly and frail, and also very tired, so I would have to lift him out of the taxi and into the wheelchair.

'I immediately felt unsure about the situation, but I did my best to help by carefully lifting the man from his seat. To my horror his face fell sideways against mine, it was ice cold.

'I knew straight away that the man was dead, but they reassured me that he "always sleeps like that".
'I could see the driver of the taxi was shocked too, he was white as a sheet and looked very shaken, so I placed the body into the wheelchair and pushed the man to the back of the easyjet queue.'
Mr Millea then left the family and quickly notified security, who attempted to check the elderly man for a pulse.
But his female relatives ushered staff away, insisting the pensioner was 'asleep'.
Mr Millea added: 'The older lady spoke both English and German, but pretended she could not understand what was being said to her.

'The second lady encouraged the young children to "tell the man that's how your grandad always sleeps".

'We had to remove the family from the queue and took the man to a side-room, where our first-aid staff confirmed he was dead.

'I was absolutely shocked at the lack of respect they showed for their relative. They even asked if they could still travel to Berlin without him.

'I was so sickened I had to go home after the incident.'

Police were called and the two women were arrested.
It is understood the elderly German national had died a day earlier, and an attempt was being made to smuggle his body back to his homeland.
Leah Gandy, 22, was working on the easyjet check-in desk when the incident happened.

She said: 'I've worked at the airport for three years, but this is the most shocking thing I've ever seen.

'I can't believe the lack of respect the two ladies showed for their family member. It sent shivers down my spine when I realised what was going on.

'Fortunately, they had done a good job of disguising the truth and the other passengers did not appear to notice that the man was dead.'
It is thought that the dead man had spent the Easter holiday with members of his family at Oldham, Greater Manchester, but died from natural caused on Good Friday.

Police suspect that the women tried to get him on the flight to Berlin Schoenfeld in a bid to avoid the costs of around £3,000 connected with repatriating his body.
The pair were questioned by Greater Manchester Police on suspicion of failing to notify a death to the authorities and were released on bail.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 91-year-old German male at John Lennon Airport.

'His name was on a list of passengers due to depart for Berlin Schoenfeld on Saturday.

'We are still investigating the exact circumstances of the death, but don't believe it is murder or manslaughter at this stage.'
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they are investigating since the death appeared to have happened in the force area.
A GMP spokesman confirmed: 'At 11am on April 3, police at Liverpool John Lennon Airport were alerted to the death of a 91-year-old man in the terminal building.
'Two women, aged 41 and 66, were arrested on suspicion of failing to give notification of death. They have been released on bail until 1st June 2010.'
The airport remained open throughout the incident and a JLA spokesperson said: 'We are co-operating with police in their investigation.'
The coroner has been informed and police are continuing with their inquiries.



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