THE mother of a woman who died in suspicious circumstances in Australia 15 years ago is trying to trace a solicitor who may be able to help.

Mother of two Angela Read, 34, was found dead in a river in 2000 but after a botched investigation a coroner could not be certain whether she committed suicide or was killed.

As reported in Saturday’s Argus her mother Pat Tompkins, of Saltdean, has finally been told the Australian authorities will re-examine her death.

Now Miss Tompkins is hoping to track down a family solicitor, called Richard Stewart, who she believes may have vital information that could help the investigation.

Mr Stewart was thought to have been based at Griffiths Smith in Old Steyne, Brighton and had previously spoken to Angela in around 1997.

Miss Tompkins said: “I think that through his dealings with Angela he may have come across documents that might help.”

After Angela’s death Miss Tompkins fought to obtain autopsy photos which showed bruising to her neck and face which was not mentioned in the original post mortem.

Her discovery led to an inquest in New South Wales in 2002.

But State coroner John Abernethy said he was forced to record an open verdict - saying he could not be certain whether she drowned accidentally, took her own life or met foul play.

Miss Tompkins showed the photos to a pathologist at the Royal Sussex County Hospital who concluded the evidence of fingermarks on her neck supported “the theory that she may have been choked or suffocated while being held under the water.”

After a further 15 years of Miss Tompkins’s campaigning, she feels there is hope on the horizon.

She met the Australian High Commissioner in London and has been promised that the case will be reinvestigated.

She told The Argus: “This is the best hope we have had for years that something is going to be done. The Australian Commissioner has said he’s going to investigate.”