Iain West

Who was Iain West?

Iain West was a British forensic pathologist. He was involved in examining numerous deaths, many which are described in the book Dr Iain West's Casebook he published in collaboration with journalist Chester Stern. From 1984 to 1998 he was head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Guy's Hospital.

Iain West's second wife was Vesna Djurovic, also a noted pathologist.

Among the deaths Iain West investigated were that of Robert Maxwell. Maxwell had fallen, jumped or been pushed overboard his yacht Lady Ghislaine 5 November 1991. Iain West was commissioned by the insurance company to examine whether the death was accidental, a suicide or homicide. 20 million Pounds were to be paid if the death was any other than accident of homicide. West was of the opinion that suicide was slightly more likely than the accident.

Iain West also carried out the post mortem examinations of the BBC TV presenter Jill Dando and the British police officer Yvonne Fletcher who was shot from the Libyan embassy in 1984. West also played a part in the release of the British soldier Lee Clegg who had been convicted for murder.

The most high profile international case with which Iain West was involved was the investigation into the death of Kenya’s Foreign Minister Dr Robert Ouko, in February 1990.