A 'murder' mystery with a toxic twist ... and pygmy goats

Three victims, a country house and poison could be a case for Hercule Poirot. But this is a sad case of botanical ignorance rather than murder most foul

A recent report appeared in the news about the sad demise of Mirabel, Adele and Jet of Walton Hall, Cheshire. The deaths were initially suspected of being due to deliberate poisoning when it became clear that there had been intruders in the grounds of the hall. The case seemed to have all the ingredients for an Agatha Christie novel: multiple deaths, poison, suspicious circumstances and even a big country house setting.

Except in this case the unfortunate victims were not characters in a novel, or even people: they were African pygmy goats. Four other goats were affected by the poison but have since made a full recovery. And the source of the poison? Rhododendron leaves found in the goats' enclosure.