A man and a woman investigated as police urge people to 'stop sharing the image' because of the 'distress' it is causing
Tuesday 30 April 2019 09:29, UK
A man and a woman have been arrested by detectives after an image purporting to show footballer Emiliano Sala's post-mortem examination was posted on Twitter.
Police began an investigation on February 13 after becoming aware of the image, which was removed.
It had already been circulated extensively on social media, however.
It is understood to show Sala's torso, with a distinctive tattoo on his arm, mid-examination.
A 48-year-old woman from Corsham, Wiltshire was arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material and malicious communications, and has since been released on conditional bail.
A 62-year-old man from Calne, Wiltshire, was also arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material, and has been released under investigation.
They were arrested on February 18, but it was only made public on Monday following a story in the Sunday Mirror.
Sala, 28, had just signed for Cardiff City when the private plane he was travelling in crashed into the English Channel north of Guernsey on January 21. His body was recovered from the wreckage of the plane on February 6.
Pilot David Ibbotson's body has not been found.
The post-mortem examination was carried out on February 7 at Holly Tree Lodge Mortuary in Dorset.
Linda Barker, head of bereavement services at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said: "We have been working with Wiltshire and Dorset Police to ascertain how images from Holly Tree Lodge mortuary were obtained. Maintaining the private and respectful environment of the mortuary remains an absolute priority."
Wiltshire Police said there was "no evidence to suggest a break-in at the mortuary, and no evidence to suggest that any staff from the mortuary, or indeed any other council employees, are involved in any wrongdoing".
Detective Inspector Gemma Vinton said a "file of evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service last week to consider whether criminal charges should be brought against the two individuals under investigation".
She also urged people to "stop sharing the image" because it was causing "distress to Emiliano's family and friends".
The footballer's father, Horacio Sala, 58, died at his home in Progreso in Argentina on Friday.
