Mirrors disorientated nan who died in shop fall, says inquest

2:49pm Monday 8th October 2007

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A Battersea grandmother who died after falling down stairs in a shop near her home was probably disorientated by mirrors, an inquest has heard.

Melek Yusuf Mehmet fractured her neck and died instantly while shopping in Gabriella Sandham's Lingerie and Swimwear Boutique in Lavender Hill on January 15.

Last Tuesday a jury at Westminster Coroners Court ruled that the 71-year-old from Stormont Road, Battersea, was likely to have been disorientated by the arrangement of a mirrored wall at the top of the stairs.

The shop, which was served a prohibition notice by Wandsworth Borough Council a week after her death, is still under investigation.

A council spokesman said the notice was lifted on May 15 after "sufficient work" was carried out, including frosting of the mirrors, but that the owner could still face charges.

He added: "We are still considering all of the evidence and will be seeking further legal advice before reaching a decision."

The court heard how Mrs Mehmet, a mum of three whose birthday would have been this Wednesday, had good balance, no problems with mobility and never smoked or drank alcohol.

The coroner said the cause of death was a fractured neck and called Mrs Mehmet's death "tragic".

Mrs Mehmet came to London from Cyprus in 1958. She worked as a dressmaker and dedicated her life to her family.

Her devastated daughter Emma, 47, said she cannot believe her mum has gone and told how it "kills her" that her mum never got to see her granddaughter go to university.

She added: "At the end of the day the result of the inquest doesn't bring my mum back. My mum's gone and it's not easy. If she was ill then fine but there was nothing wrong with her.

"In the last year I have been really ill - the whole family has. I can't work properly and have lost two stone. I suffer with headaches because I'm crying all the time. I just cannot believe my mum's gone."