After a prolonged dispute between siblings William and Jason Godwin, the body of their deceased father, Michael Godwin, 95, has been held in a mortuary for nearly five months. Michael passed away in a Leeds hospital in November while visiting the UK and had expressed a desire to be buried in France. However, the disagreement between his sons led to a court battle over whether he should be cremated or buried.
Following a recent court hearing in Leeds, William sought legal authorization to proceed with his father’s cremation, asserting that Jason had no right to interfere with the decision. In a ruling by Judge Jonathan Klein, it was determined that Michael would be buried in England according to Church of England customs. The judge mandated that William invite his brother, Jason, to the funeral proceedings.
Judge Klein emphasized Michael’s consistent wish to be buried, citing potential delays in repatriating his body to France. Michael, a Church of England member with a background in lift engineering, had previously lived in the south of France for over three decades. While he had expressed a desire to be buried in a cemetery near Paris in his will, the prolonged delay in funeral arrangements raised concerns about the state of his body.
Although Jason advocated for honoring his father’s wish to be buried in France, William argued for an English burial, pointing out the family’s lack of ties to the French cemetery. The judge concurred, expressing doubts about future visits to a gravesite in Hargeville. Additionally, he noted the language barrier that would hinder mourners if the funeral were held in France.
