THE FAMILY of a mum-of-three said they have been left with more questions than answers after a three-year fight to find out the truth behind her death.

An inquest at Burnley Coroner’s Court heard that Sara Powell, 38, died following an insulin overdose, which left her in a “vegetative state” for six years.The court heard that Mrs Powell had been the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband Vincent.

She was taken to hospital on the night of January 8, 2000, after he had punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious, but she returned home the same night.

On the morning of January 10 she was rushed to Rochdale Infirmary after the insulin overdose, but mystery surrounds how she received it.Husband Vinc-ent was a diabetic and kept doses of insulin in the fridge, but it is not known if Sara or someone else gave her the injections.

Mr Powell, who had mar-ried Sara, from Whitworth, in November 1999, told the inquest that he had hit her after an argument about him attending a football match earlier that day.

He said: “Sara was aware of where the insulin was kept and how to administer it.

“After a previous argu-ment she told me she had given herself some insulin.

“And I had to ask one of the children to give her some chocolate.”

The inquest heard that her family said she was so scared of needles she had to get her sister to take the children for their injections. And they believed that there was no way she could have given herself the insulin injections. The inquest heard that her family believed the hospital failed to respond quick eno-ugh to prevent her suffering brain damage, which ultim-ately led to her death, and lost important notes about her condition.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor recorded a narrative verdict.

Speaking outside the court, Sara’s family said they still had no answers about her death, nine years on from her ending up in hospital.

Lesley Williams, Sara’s mum, said: “We have learnt nothing from today and still want answers.

“We will never stop fighting until they bury us. We have got to do it for Sara and for her children, who have been so brave and so strong.”