The new report that claims Brittany Murphy was poisoned is "ridiculous," another expert said. The independent analysis ordered by her father, Angelo Bertolotti, states that it's likely that the "Clueless" actress was poisoned, but the Los Angeles coroner is standing by its original assessment that she died of natural causes in 2008.

Murphy, 32, died of pneumonia and iron-deficiency anaemia coupled with multiple drug intoxication on Dec 20, 2009. Five months later, her husband, Simon Monjack, was found dead at the same Hollywood Hills residence, and his cause of death was the same as hers.

Bertolotti has long maintained that his daughter's death couldn't possibly be from natural causes. And after more than a year of trying to obtain samples of Murphy's hair for independent testing, he was finally granted the same in November 2013. He had commissioned The Carlson Company to conduct the new tests.

And the latest lab report, which was obtained by the Examiner, shows that Bertolotti's suspicions might be justified. Murphy's hair samples have been detected to contain ten heavy metals at levels above the high levels recommended by World Health Organisation.

"If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor, then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals (toxins) administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent," the report reads.

"It's very suspicious," Bertolotti told HLN of his daughter and her husband's deaths. "I feel she was poisoned and there's no question about that. She was murdered."

He also has a suspect in mind, but he refused to divulge the name.

But an expert in the matter thinks that using hair alone to determine the cause of death of a person is "ridiculous."

Dr Bruce Goldberg, the director of forensic medicine at the University of Florida and the president of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, told CNN that the lab report's conclusion is "an inflammatory statement" that is "a baseless allegation and outrageous statement to make based on a single hair test."

As the actress' autopsy revealed no physical signs of poisoning, Dr Goldberger said that a hair test alone is not sufficient to establish the new claim.

He added that the independent lab report showed a normal level of arsenic. And if rat poisoning was involved, which was apparently the type of poison used, the arsenic level would have been elevated.

"She was a beautiful woman and likely had numerous hair treatments," he said. "Chemicals in the hair treatment would alter the chemistry of her hair sample."

And despite reports to the contrary, the Los Angeles coroner "has no plans to reopen the inquiries into the deaths of Miss Murphy or Mr Monjack."

Chief of operations for the coroner Craig Harvey said that they "stand by our conclusions and opinions."

They are aware of the private testing ordered by Bertolotti, but they haven't seen it yet.

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