An autopsy report has revealed the extent of injuries suffered by a Kinross-shire woman before her sudden death in Israel.
The family of Julie Pearson are still fighting for answers, three years after the hotel worker died in mysterious circumstances.
They have questioned the official findings by authorities in Israel, which ruled 38-year-old Miss Pearson died of natural causes related to internal bleeding caused by a haemorrhage.
The family alleges that the haemorrhage was caused by a brutal beating at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Amjad Khatib who had previously served time in prison for assaulting her.
Israel police had acknowledged the assault, but said it was not a factor in her death.
In 2016, relatives released graphic images of Miss Pearson’s body to show that it was covered in bruises.
Now an autopsy report has revealed the full extent of her injuries, including cuts, bruises and possible broken bones.
Julie’s aunt Deborah Pearson, from West Lothian, believes police could have done more to investigate her niece’s death.
“Julie had been repeatedly abused by Khatib, but instead of helping her, Israel turned its back,” she said.
Julie was working at a hotel in the Red Sea resort town of Eliat in Israel – where she had family connections – when she died on November 27 2015.
It was days after the hotel worker’s death that her family back in Scotland were notified.
The police reports revealed that officers were called to help Julie the night before she died, when they believe the assault by Kahtib happened.
When officers arrived, they saw Julie’s extensive facial bruising and noted she was incoherent and “falling asleep after each sentence, even though she did not smell of alcohol”.
Despite the warning signs, Julie was not taken to hospital. Instead, the officer filing the report stated: “There is no criminal offence”.
Police did not arrest Khatib and Julie was dead within a few hours.
Two weeks later, Khatib was arrested. He denied having anything to do with his ex-partner’s death and was released.
MP Hannah Bardell, who has support the family’s fight for justice, said she will seek another meeting with Israel ambassador Mark Regev “as a matter of urgency”.
