Family anger at funeral delays

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Omar Mohamed

The family of a man who died in a car crash are angry after being told they will have to wait before they can bury him.

A second post-mortem examination has been ordered on Omar Mohamed.

He is believed to have suffered a broken neck in the accident at junction 19 of the M1, near Lutterworth, on Christmas Day.

Father-of-five Mr Mohamed, a former Somali basketball player, was a Muslim. According to custom, funerals should take place within hours of a death.

His family had already learned there would be some delays while the crash was investigated and a post-mortem examination was carried out.

Now, they have been told lawyers acting for Sheffield United footballer Jordan Robertson, who has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, have asked for a second autopsy.

Mr Mohamed's family and friends have been told it will be at least another week before the funeral can take place.

His widow, Trea, 38, of Baden Road, off Evington Drive, Leicester, said today: "We can do nothing to speed up things. I'm very upset by this and I really hoped we could have buried Omar's body by now. I'm not sure why there needs to be a second opinion.

"It is making the whole thing much harder to accept because we cannot say goodbye yet."

The news has upset some of Mr Mohamed's relatives, who flew to England from overseas after hearing of the tragedy. They will have to return home soon and fear they will miss out on paying their last respects.

Mr Mohamed's sister, Berlin, arrived from Minneapolis on Boxing Day and was joined a day later by her 15-year-old son, Abdir Ahmed.

About 20 other people have come over from Canada, Holland and Norway, and about 400 people are expected to attend the funeral. The visitors are due to return on Sunday.

Berlin said: "I'm upset and worried that I will not get a chance to say a last goodbye to my brother. I do not want to be angry at the moment, but I am."

Hashim Duale, 42, a trustee of the Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire, was close friends with Mr Mohamed and has been attempting to make funeral arrangements.

He said: "For Muslims, it is normal to try to bury our dead as soon as we can and, if possible, within six hours.

"This is extending the period of grief for everyone involved and is not pleasant for his family and friends.

"I know it is allowed to ask for a second opinion, but a lot of people do not understand what has to be done."

A spokesman for the coroners' office said: "The third party involved were offered a second post-mortem examination, which they accepted.

"The pathologist had not given a cause of death in the first instance."

Mr Robertson has been released on police bail. The Leicester Mercury was unable to contact his representatives.

Source: Leicester Mercury, Jan 07, 2008