LONDON, March 16 (UPI) -- The family of a slain heroin addict has asked a London art gallery to reconsider its plans to display a photo of their daughter.
"We feel it is distasteful and completely inappropriate and the timing couldn't have been worse for us all," said the father, Mick Holcroft, the Daily Mail reported. Holcroft's statement was issued by Wiltshire police.
"We would urge the gallery to reconsider their decision to display this image next week or any week," Holcroft said.
The portrait by Stella Vine shows their 21-year-old daughter, Rachel Whitear, with blood gushing from her mouth. Whitear's body was found in May 2000.
Vine's portrait of Whitear was purchased by collector Charles Saatchi, and the piece is scheduled to be displayed next week Wednesday at the Saatchi Gallery as part of an exhibit on so-called "shock art" called New Blood.
