The family of a woman whose funeral was held at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull thought her coffin looked “battered”, Hull Crown Court has heard.
Susan Stone died aged 77 on January 5 2024 and her grandson, Callum Stone, paid £1,799 for a funeral and cremation, prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said.
Some family members said Ms Stone’s coffin had been “severely damaged” on the right-hand side and the name plaque was not screwed on, but nothing was said to Bush, the hearing was told.
Mr Stone was told his grandmother would be cremated after the funeral or “first thing” the next day, but her body was recovered from Legacy, Hessle Road, on March 8 2024 – more than two months after her death.
In a victim statement read to court, Mr Stone said:
“My dad, Martin, mentioned at the ceremony that something wasn’t right with the coffin.
“It looked battered and second hand.
“He couldn’t get over thinking about whether she was actually inside it throughout or not.”
Of funeral director Robert Bush, he added:
“I feel nothing but hatred for a man who claimed to treat loved ones with dignity and respect but know that I can’t dwell on that feeling or it will eat me up inside.”