The family of a woman who died in Israel has renewed its demands for answers about post-mortem findings that she died of natural causes.
Julie Pearson, 38, originally from Kinross, passed away five months ago in the Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Her family claim she was badly beaten by her ex-boyfriend, Amjad Hatib, and have released graphic photographs showing Miss Pearson’s bruised face in an attempt to reopen the investigation.
Staff at Forensic Science Service in Tel Aviv concluded she died from “idiopathic spontaneous intraperitoneal haemorrhage in combination with high blood alcohol level”.
This followed an undertaker’s report which listed Miss Pearson’s body having a large bruise to her right shoulder, bruises to her chest, elbows, arms and torso, as well as to her face.
Julie’s mother, Margeret Pearson, told the Sunday Mail: “We feel we have no other choice but to let the world see the injuries my daughter sustained as we try to get to the truth of how Julie died.
“I haven’t been able to rest since seeing what had been done to her. The black bruises to her face and body were horrific.
“There is no way she died from natural causes.”
Prime Minister David Cameron and Hannah Bardell MP have both pledged to help Miss Pearson’s family.
Eitan Na’eh, Israel’s London-based deputy ambassador, met Miss Pearson’s aunt, Deborah Pearson, 55, prior to her flying out to Eilat.
Deborah Pearson, of Blackburn, West Lothian, hit out at the police investigation into the death, describing it as a “complete shambles”.
“I went to Eilat a few weeks ago and found witnesses the police did not even question,” she said.
“We have been badly let down by everyone involved in this case .
“We are disgusted we’ve had to wait all this time to be told this and remain convinced Julie was murdered.
“If an Israeli citizen was killed in Scotland the way Julie was, there would be an international outcry if the death was investigated in such a shambolic way.
“We are speaking to a lawyer in Israel to launch a legal action against the police for failing Julie and will be pressing to see Hatib facing criminal charges.
“This is not over. We will not allow it to be over until we have the answers we need.”
The Israeli police said they had nothing to add to the pathologists’ report into the death.juli
