A family who believe a Lancaster woman was murdered have spoken of their relief after police reopened an investigation into her death.
Katie Beattie, 27, was found dead at her flat in Lancaster on July 1 2024.
Her family has campaigned for 'Katie Beth's Law', setting up an online petition at Change.org which has had more than 5,000 signatures.
This calls for all deaths deemed unexplained or suspicious to receive a full forensic examination within 24 hours and that bloods are taken upon arrival at the mortuary to allow for accurate toxicology results.
Police said initially that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate Katie's death was a result of any criminality.
An inquest was also unable to determine how she died.
But Kellie Rhodes, Katie's sister, told Beyond Radio last year that she believes her sister was sexually assaulted, then injected with an illegal substance, between two of her toes.
The family initiated a Victim's Right to Review - a scheme enabling victims and their families to obtain a review of police decisions.
This week, a Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "The initial investigation has been reviewed following a victim right to review, and further enquiries are being conducted following this.
"Anyone with information that can assist those enquiries is asked to call 101 quoting log 1092 of 1st July 2024."
A statement from Katie's family said: "We are relieved that our concerns are finally being listened to.
"The decision to overturn the Victim’s Right to Review confirms what we as a family have believed from the very beginning - that the investigation into Katie’s death was not carried out properly in the first place.
Katie Beattie
"For a long time, we have raised serious concerns about missed opportunities, unanswered questions, and failures within the original police investigation.
"We firmly believed that further evidence, including toxicology findings and other investigative material, warranted deeper examination and consideration for potential criminal proceedings.
"The overturning of the VRR now validates those concerns and demonstrates that the case deserved far greater scrutiny than it originally received.
"This decision is an important step toward accountability and toward ensuring that Katie receives the justice and dignity she deserves.
"While this does not undo the pain our family has endured, it gives us renewed hope that the full circumstances surrounding Katie’s death will now be properly examined.
"We continue to call on Lancashire Constabulary to make every possible effort to build a complete and robust circumstantial case, particularly if previous failings have compromised the pursuit of justice.
"Katie mattered, and our family will continue to fight to ensure her voice is not ignored.
"Please can everyone continue to help our fight by signing a petition set up in Katie’s name."
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