The family of a Scot who they claim was murdered in Israel have dismissed findings from a pathologist that suggests she died of natural causes.

Julie Pearson, who was originally from Kinross-shire, died in the holiday resort of Eilat on November 27 last year.

Her family has been told a long-awaited post-mortem by Israel's Forensic Institute has concluded that although Julie was beaten the night before she died, ultimately, internal bleeding due to a rare stomach condition was the cause of her death.

The 38-year-old was found dying in a guest house and later pronounced dead in hospital but when her body was returned to Scotland for burial her face, arms, wrists and torso were covered in bruises.

Friends and witnesses have since told Julie's family she was violently attacked by her ex-partner the night before her death.

The Pearson family were not notified of her death until three days later, via a friend, and have struggled to get answers from the police involved in the case since. They want Julie's death investigated as a murder.

Julie's aunt, Deborah Pearson, who is representing the family, insisted the stomach condition theory does not stand up.

She said: "Even if, and that's a big if, she had an underlying stomach condition, what he did that day has aggravated it. By punching and kicking her on the body, as we've been told he did, he obviously brought it on.

"It's not just coincidence that she was beaten black and blue and then died the next day. It must be linked.

"Besides, Julie was a healthy person. She walked everywhere and was fit and strong. I was with her for a week in October before her death and her father was there the previous month for a whole month.

"She ate meals and acted as normal. She never once complained of a sore stomach or any pain. Surely there would have been some kind of sign if she had a fatal condition?"

Although the post-mortem results were handed to police earlier this month, the family has yet to see the full and final report. They are waiting for police to hand it over but have already been advised the case is considered closed.

The Pearson family have been given snippets of the post-mortem findings, including the internal bleeding evidence, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the meantime.

Ms Pearson added: "As soon as I get the full post-mortem I'm going to have it checked by experts here. It's now with the Eilat police but I'm waiting for a family liaison officer to formally hand it over to us.

"I've been told that it was completed on March 17. I really can't understand the delay in giving it to us."

Ms Pearson visited Eilat at end of February and was surprised when police gave her the clothes Julie was wearing on the night of her death and her mobile phone - items which she assumed would be held by police as key evidence in a possible future investigation.

Mr Pearson has left the items in the sealed bags they were contained in.

She now believes police knew at that stage that Julie's death had been put down to natural causes.

She said: "Looking back, it seemed very odd at the time that they were giving us this evidence. I think it's because they knew at that stage that it was going to be put down to natural causes. They had already closed the case.

"We're going to keep fighting this. I'm not leaving this until we know exactly what happened. This man has a previous conviction for beating Julie. Something is not right here and we are not giving up until we get justice for Julie."

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