The inquest was held at St. Pancras on March 9th 1967. The coroner was John Burton. Professor Francis Camps stated that traces of amphetamine were found in Joe's system (urine sample). He said that this type of drug could cause delusions of persecution and gross psychosis. (I find the term 'traces' interesting. In forensics and pathology, a 'trace' is usually a tiny amount which is just big enough to detect but too small to measure by normal processes. Unfortunately there is no way to find out exactly what he meant by 'traces' in this context.)

DCI Brian Kelly stated that he found 24 medicine bottles in Joe's flat, which contained, variously, amphetamines, barbiturates, Dexedrine and purple hearts. From this description, it sounds likely that these were all prescription medicines (although that doesn't necessarily mean they were legally obtained, more on which later). The barbiturates could easily have been sleeping pills, and the amphetamine pills something like Preludin, a slimming pill well known for it's speed-like effects. Purple Hearts were still being prescribed in England in 1967 for certain mental conditions, such as manic depression.

Patrick Pink stated that Joe had an "ungovernable temper" and was often depressed. A news report of the inquest states that it came out at the inquest that Pink had stayed at the flat overnight

Joe's solicitor, John Ginett, said that Joe was 'in a financial muddle', but that he was confident he "could have got him out of it". He stated that Joe could be moody and difficult but was basically a reasonable man. He also said that Joe had wondered whether it was possible that the people at the electronics shop next door could have been listening to him recording, but he was "not serious" about it, merely wondering if it could technically be done.

DCI Brian Kelly headed the investigation; PC Robert Betty gave evidence of finding the bodies. Joe's body was officially identified for the inquest by DC John Corner of 'N' division, as he had previously done for the investigation. (This raises a point as to why Joe was identified by a police officer, rather than a family member or friend. Even if his features were so disfigured from the injury, usually a relative would be asked to identify the clothing or the body with the head covered, from an identifying mark. It has been speculated that DC Corner may have been involved with Joe's 1963 arrest, but he has made no comment on the subject.)

Professor Camps told the jury that "Meek had a wound near his right ear surrounded by scorching, which had caused extensive shattering of the skull." The coroner told the jury that "Meek obviously knew what he was doing when he shot Mrs. Shenton. You have heard evidence that he was taking drugs, which could cause delusions. But they [Joe and Mrs. Shenton] got on well together. Why he did this, we do not know."

This last statement seems to me to be highly contradictory. One the one hand, the coroner was saying that Joe was 100% in his right mind at the time of the shooting, whilst allowing that the drugs he was taking could be causing him to be perceiving or actually seeing things that were not really there!

It also came out at the inquest that Joe actually owed the Shentons no rent at all. (In fact he had been a few months behind until shortly before February 3rd, when he had paid the debt in full.) Heinz was present at the inquest and provided evidence about the gun, where it came from and what it was doing at 304. Clem Cattini was supposedly in attendance too, but has never talked about it if he was.

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