A coroner will hear the inquests of three teenage girls who died while under the care of a troubled mental health trust, it has been ruled.
Inquests are yet to take place into the deaths of Christie Harnett, 17, Nadia Sharif, 17, and Emily Moore, 18. The girls died while under the care of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Trust between June 2019 and February 2020.
They had all been diagnosed with complex mental health needs and been patients at TEWV’s West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough. An NHS England investigation in 2022 identified a combined 119 failings in care which led to their deaths, and TEWV was prosecuted and fined £200k for the deaths of Christie and un-named Patient X.
The Deputy Coroner for England and Wales has ruled Christie and Nadia’s inquests should be transferred to the County Durham Coroner from Teesside. Crook Coroners’ Court heard on Friday (July 18) that all three will now be heard by one coroner.
The move was suggested by barristers earlier this year.
Senior Assistant Coroner for County Durham and Darlington Crispin Oliver said: “Pursuant to a direction made by the Deputy Chief Coroner for England and Wales on March 31, 2025 [these cases] (Christie and Nadia's) have been transferred from the Teesside Coroner to the County Durham and Darlington Senior Coroner who has allocated [them] to me.”
During a short hearing he said the cases will still be heard at Teesside Coroners’ Court.
Nadia Sharif was detained under the Mental Health Act when she took her own life in her room at West Lane on August 9, 2019.
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The coroner said no determination had been made yet as to whether Nadia and Christie’s inquests should be resumed.
Brief hearings cases will be back before the court on August 27.
Emily’s inquest will last five weeks starting on March 2 next year at the Crook court, and take place before a jury.
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