Latest news with #CoronersCourt
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Jealous boyfriend smothered partner to death before killing himself after wrongly accusing her of cheating on him, inquest told
A jealous man smothered his girlfriend to death with a pillow before hanging himself because she ended their relationship, an inquest has heard. Mother-of-two Lucy Powell, 21, was discovered dead lying on a bed at a house in Swancote Road, Stechford, in Birmingham on the evening of January 27, 2022. Officers forced their way into the address after her father raised concerns and they found the bodies of Ms Powell and 47-year-old Gregory Duhamel. Birmingham Coroners Court heard today Duhamel killed Ms Powell after wrongly accusing her of cheating before hanging himself in the bedroom. A note left by Duhamel indicated an intention to take his own life and added how 'Lucy would die as well'. A post mortem examination revealed the 21-year-old died from asphyxia caused by smothering while Duhamel's death was a result of suspension by ligature. Birmingham Area Coroner Emma Brown described Ms Powell, who worked as a carer, as a 'devoted and hard working mum' who still found time to pursue arts and crafts. She had lived at the address with Duhamel, who was the father of her children, but evidence found revealed they were intending to sell the property. Ms Brown said it was clear from those who knew Ms Powell and the note left by Duhamel at the scene that the relationship had come to an end. On January 27, Ms Powell's father had gone to Stechford police station to report his daughter was missing after she failed to collect her children from nursery. Police then went to the address and forced their way inside after getting no response. Officers found Duhamel hanging while Ms Powell was discovered lying in the bedroom. Ms Brown said: 'There was no sign that entry had been forced to the property and there was no sign of significant disorder in the bedroom. 'Ms Powell was a fit and strong young woman. 'A police investigation has confirmed that Lucy had ended the relationship and that Duhamel did not accept this. 'It is clear from the investigation that Duhamel killed Lucy and then himself. 'I find that Lucy was smothered by her partner.' She added Duhamel had believed Lucy had cheated on him but there was no evidence to support that. The coroner recorded she had been unlawfully killed. Following her death In a heartbreaking tribute, Ms Powell's family said: 'Lucy was a kind, caring beautiful person inside and out and always put a smile on everyone's face. 'She was a brilliant, loving mother to her two young children. 'She was taken from us way too soon and nothing will ever fill the heart-breaking hole in our hearts.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Mum died at home just HOURS after medic said she looked ‘normal' – but missed key warning sign on her lips
CHARLOTTE Alderson died of an infection at home hours after medics missed a key warning sign on her lips, an inquest heard. The mum-of-three from Suffolk had been vomiting and complained of excruciating headaches before she died on 21 December 2022. An emergency medical technician (EMT) who attended the scene spoke to a GP on the phone about the 34-year-old's condition. Both decided Charlotte, a swimming instructor, did not need hospital treatment. After her death, it emerged Charlotte had group A streptococcus (Strep A), a common but potentially deadly bacterial infection. Her husband Stuart Alderson told Suffolk Coroner's Court that he had noticed a blue tinge on her lips, a classic warning sign of sepsis, a life-threatening infection. He said he called NHS 111 after Charlotte had been vomiting and suffering diarrhoea all night, and that she lacked energy, which was 'really unusual' for her. An ambulance was sent out, and Stuart added that the staff told him there was a 14-hour wait at the hospital and that Charlotte would "just get a blood test". "To my mind, I thought, 'Well if you think she's OK, we're happy to accept that decision not to go,'' the husband said, according to BBC reports. The inquest heard that Charlotte first fell ill on 15 December 2022 with cold symptoms and an earache. She saw her GP, who diagnosed an outer ear infection and prescribed a topical spray. Medical staff used a clinical scoring system called Centor, which suggested no antibiotics were needed. The signs and symptoms of sepsis to look out for, according to The UK Sepsis Trust The coroner later said another system, Feverpain, might have recommended antibiotics and potentially changed the outcome. EMT Morgan Burt said she did not see the blue tinge on Charlotte's lips, but if she had, it would have been treated as a 'high priority' case. A recording of a phone call between EMT Burt and on call GP Dr Emma Ayers was played in court. Dr Ayers said she thought Charlotte might have a viral infection and advised plenty of fluids and a Covid test. But she added: 'When I said it could be viral infection, that was only half of the sentence. I was thinking this could be bacterial and she could be septic.' Dr Ayers said she was not informed about the blue lips during the call and that had she known, she would have sent Charlotte straight to hospital as an emergency. 2 She also said that if she could change her advice, she would have invited Charlotte for an appointment that afternoon. Ambulance staff found Charlotte's temperature and heart rate slightly elevated but other signs 'generally within normal range.' With no immediate hospitalisation needed, the ambulance left at around 1pm. Charlotte's condition got worse that afternoon. Her husband went out to buy pain relief, but when he came back, he found her collapsed, unconscious but still breathing. He called 999 again at around 2pm, during which time Charlotte stopped breathing Paramedics arrived just before 2:30pm and despite resuscitation efforts, she sadly passed away. A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as multi-organ failure due to septic shock from the rapid spread of the bacterial infection. Sepsis spotting Suffolk Coroner Darren Stewart raised 'several matters of concern' about Charlotte's death. He warned the NHS's Feverpain and Centor scoring systems for infections can give conflicting results, and said using Feverpain might have led to antibiotics being prescribed earlier, possibly saving her. 'There is a need to review these scoring systems to provide guidance on a single system clinicians can rely on,' he said. He called for faster sepsis tests like CRP, finger prick, and lateral flow, stressing: 'The risks of sepsis and rapid deterioration are well known. We need urgent tools to help spot and treat it early.' The coroner also slammed the 111 call system for delays when ambulances must be booked manually, not automatically. The inquest is ongoing.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Mum of teen found dead in Nantwich river suspects others involved
The mother of a teenager whose body was found in a river has told his inquest she believes other people were involved in his Evans, 16, was found in the River Weaver in Nantwich, Cheshire, on 1 September, after being reported missing the previous day. Martina Cliffe told Cheshire Coroner's Court she could hear her son calling for help in home security footage she had reviewed via property near the site, and that she was aware of people "plotting" to frame him over drugs matters. Det Sgt Emily Cole from Cheshire Police told the hearing the force was unable to either rule in or rule out third-party involvement amid a lack of clear evidence surrounding the teenager's demise. Area coroner Victoria Davies heard Jonty visited Nantwich Food Festival on the afternoon of 30 August with his brother and a Cliffe said she arranged to pick up her boys at 22:30 BST, but Jonty had wanted to stay out and said he would stop over at his friend's said he had seemed fine when she spoke to him on the phone, although she could tell he had drunk alcohol and was "merry".When he had not returned home by the following afternoon, she contacted police to report him court heard the teenager was last seen on CCTV shortly before 01:00 BST on 31 August entering Mill Island park, near the junction of Mill to the cries of help she referenced, Ms Cliffe told the court that police did not "hear what I hear" in the audio recorded at a home near to the park on Riverside. "They find it inaudible," she claimed the same audio source also revealed her son's name being mentioned in connection with £8,000 of drugs stolen that day. "They're plotting and it's all over drugs," she said. "They want to get away with these drugs so they're blaming my added she could hear Jonty's voice calling "help, help, help".She told the court: "As a mother I can recognise his voice, I can recognise him retaliating. I don't know if he's fighting or just shouting and screaming," she said.A cause of death did not emerge in court during Monday's Cliffe told the inquest she believed pathology evidence revealing dirt lodged in her son's fingernails was proof "he was grabbing at soil" when he went into the river."That's why I think there were other people involved," she added she had identified suspects based on recordings made at her son's grave via recording equipment she left there, which, she said, she intended to pass on to stated her "bubbly, happy" son's mood had not changed prior to his death. 'Rumours and hearsay' Det Sgt Cole told the court that witnesses and CCTV suggested Jonty shared a bottle of gin on the day in question, shoplifting the alcohol with a friend. He was later seen drinking vodka, the officer said investigations focused on three possible hypotheses: That Jonty had entered the water due to a third party; slipped in due to intoxication; or gone in said police had followed up on local "rumours" into the involvement of a third party, speaking to more than 180 people and reviewing 420 hours of CCTV footage, but concluded "it was literally hearsay".She added there was nothing at the scene suggesting evidence of a struggle, or that Jonty had slipped."The pathology report indicated no injuries and his clothing had not been ripped," she said. In addition, inquiries were unable to connect the audio and video footage highlighted by Ms Cliffe to Jonty's death, she teenagers previously arrested on suspicion of assault following an altercation with Jonty earlier in the evening were released after they were found to be nowhere near the river during the night, the officer confirmed. Ms Davies said: "I understand, while not able to rule out third party involvement because there's no clear evidence about what happened after Jonty entered the park, you can't rule it in, you can't rule it out?"The officer confirmed that was true and added a number of witness appeals had failed to identify anybody else in the park at a similar time. The court also heard the teenager had been arguing with his girlfriend on the phone over a video which appeared to show him kissing or hugging another girl. His girlfriend told police he sounded "strange" and "rambling" and seemed drunk. The fact-finding inquest, which will not establish civil or criminal liability, is due to conclude on Wednesday after pathology evidence. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, X and Instagram.
South China Morning Post
18-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to launch database for high-risk elderly carers this year
Hong Kong will launch a database this year to identify high-risk carers looking after the elderly, with the city recording more than 470 suicides among older residents annually, accounting for over 40 per cent of all cases. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that the government was in discussions with the personal data privacy authorities to design data-sharing solutions that complied with the city's legal requirements. But he added that the government hoped to launch the new database as soon as possible this year. '[Authorities] and the Privacy Commissioner have roughly resolved how to connect and compare databases in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, but we will launch a pilot scheme first,' Sun told lawmakers at a Legislative Council meeting. 'We hope to launch the pilot scheme as soon as possible this year.' Statistics from the Coroner's Court showed that there were 472 suicides involving people aged 60 and above last year, on a par with the 473 and 477 recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The database will include information on carers looking after older residents and those from low-income households. Photo: Eugene Lee The suicides of those aged 60 and over accounted for 41 per cent of the city's overall cases last year, slightly down from 43 per cent in 2023 and 44 per cent in 2022.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 5, died of sepsis after doctors 'race against the clock' to save him
A family was left 'devastated' after their young son died of septic shock in hospital, an inquest has heard. Pak Lam Law was just five years old when he tragically passed away at around 10am on December 5th 2023 at Tameside Hospital, Stockport Coroners Court heard today (June 17). He had been admitted to the hospital the previous afternoon after being transferred there from Salford Royal Infirmary, where he had been diagnosed with pneumonia. READ MORE: Busy road in Greater Manchester area to close for six months READ MORE: A Lamborghini, designer watches and dirty cash - 'TupacDon' gang smashed on the M61 as cops open secret compartment His condition worsened through the night and despite repeated medical intervention he went into cardiac arrest just before 9:30am and died just before 10am after three rounds of CPR. Senior area coroner Alison Mutch began proceedings by reading a statement from Pak's mother Li Lai Ma. The parents, who were spoken to via a Cantonese interpreter throughout proceedings, left the room while the distressing account was read out. "Pak was a healthy, joyful baby who brought immense happiness to the family," his mother said in her statement. "He was a cheerful, talkative and intelligent child who loved animals and playing with Spiderman toys." "We moved to the UK 12 months before his death and he adapted well. He was all a parent could hope for - thriving and full of life." Ms Mutch then read statements from Pak's GP, the 111 operator who had triaged the family over the phone, the radiologist who had taken an x-ray of Pak at Salford Royal and the NWAS driver who had transferred the family to Tameside, before turning to the facts of the post-mortem. The examination found that Pak had died of multi-organ dysfunction caused by septic shock, itself brought on by invasive pneumococcal pneumonia. There was evidence of fluid in his right lung and in his chest. Pak had been suffering with stomach pains, vomiting and a high temperature for several days when his parents first brought him to Salford Royal Infirmary on November 30 2023. That evening doctors diagnosed him with an upper respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis, and advised Pak's parents to continue treating him at home with ibuprofen and Calpol. If he did not improve after five days, the family was told to return to hospital - but Li Lai Ma said that no antibiotics were administered, nor were blood samples taken. "At that moment I felt that something was not right. My fears and concerns were dismissed,' she alleged. At home, Pak's condition did not improve, as he continued to vomit and his appetite 'disappeared'. The family returned to Salford Royal A&E in the early hours of December 4 with Pak extremely pale and barely managing to drink water. Upon arrival nurses recorded his blood oxygen, blood pressure and temperature, and an x-ray was ordered. He was periodically reviewed throughout the night. At 8:30am he was reviewed by Dr Anna Rennie, a consultant in paediatric and emergency medicine at Salford Royal. In her statement she noted that Pak had no rash and presented normal levels of consciousness, but added that he seemed tired and was 'working harder than normal' to breathe on his right-hand side. Reviewing the x-ray taken overnight, Dr Rennie diagnosed Pak with right-sided pneumonia, and placed him on intravenous antibiotics and a rehydration treatment. But she explained to the court that, as Salford Royal does not have any paediatric ward beds that can accommodate children for more than 24 hours, Pak was transferred to the nearest available bed which was at Tameside Hospital. As Pak's level of risk was assessed as yellow, he did not receive IV treatment during the transfer nor were any medical personnel present - but Dr Rennie deemed that this would be safe for a half-hour journey. 'What was your overall impression of him, looking back?' asked the coroner. 'I did not feel he was septic, but I was concerned about his risk of deterioration, and that includes sepsis,' Dr Rennie replied. 'Any child with pneumonia is at risk of that.' She added that a 'full set' of notes was sent over with every transferred patient and that a verbal 'clinician to clinician' conversation took place in which she informed staff at Tameside hospital of Pak's history and any concerns she had. 'It was expressly mentioned that I felt concerned about him,' she continued. 'any clinician with sufficient training will recognise that a child with pneumonia is at risk of sepsis.' 'What was the name of the person you spoke to?' the coroner asked. 'Unfortunately I didn't get their name,' Dr Rennie answered. 'That is something I have reflected on following this case.' The family were then transferred to Tameside Hospital, arriving at around 2pm on December 4. Registered paediatric nurse and ward manager Holly Martin, who did not come into contact with Pak until her shift began on the morning of December 5, detailed in her report how nurses had taken observations of Pak's progress throughout the night. The court heard how he continued to receive antibiotics and hydrating fluids via an IV, but his condition continued to worsen. His heart and breathing rate continued to climb, while he remained by turns drowsy and agitated, not responding to light shone in his eyes. Coroner Mutch asked Ms Martin about the observations the nurses took, which are used to calculate the PEWS score, a paediatric early warning system used to monitor deterioration in patients. Ms Martin agreed that some of the notes were incomplete. 'How do you create a PEWS score when some observations, such as blood pressure, are not recorded?' the coroner asked. 'The old scoring system did not require all these elements in order to create a score,' Ms Martin replied. 'We have since moved to a different system.' There was also discussion of the 'sepsis bundle', a set of treatments and checks designed to reduce sepsis mortality. 'Was the bundle used in Pak's case? ' the coroner asked. 'I do not believe so, based on the notes,' came the reply. 'Should it not have been, when his PEWS score went from 2 to 5 between 2:30 and 4am? The doctor notes suggest that around 4:30am there was a clinical review from the registrar – is that what the nursing notes suggest?' Ms Mutch continued. 'They show that there was further medical review but it's not clear at what time. It's not in the documents,' Ms Martin replied. Counsel for the family Louise Green focused on the frequency of the nurses' observations. 'Do you agree that it looks like no nursing observations took place between 8pm and 12:30am?' she asked Ms Martin. 'That is what the documents would appear to show,' she replied. At around 6:30am on December 5 Pak was moved to the high-care bed in the paediatric unit. NWTS (North West Paediatric Transport Service) and the on-call paediatric consultant, Dr Mazen Haider, were called in. Dr Haider had began his shift at 5pm on December 4 and went home at 8pm, remaining on-call overnight until 9am the following day. Overnight he had discussed Pak with the hospital registrar, who told him he had become less responsive and was now vomiting a dark brown substance. 'What was it that caused you to recognise that Pak was in septic shock?' the coroner asked. 'The repeated administering of fluids and the repeated tachycardia (heart rate over 100bpm),' he replied. 'The registrar had taken several steps to manage his condition.' Dr Haider stressed that, when he arrived for his shift the previous evening, none of Pak's observations were consistent with sepsis. 'Before I left I asked the staff if they had concerns about anyone – and no-one did at that time.' His notes clarified that Pak was treated throughout the night but it did not appear to be having an effect, though there was no significant deterioration until around 5:30am. 'You did not get the phone call until 45 minutes later though,' said the coroner. 'At that point it was quite clear that it was septic shock – it is now a race against the clock, is it not?' 'Yes,' Dr Haider agreed. But he also spoke of the difficulty in diagnosing sepsis. 'Discoloured vomit could be stress,' he said. 'And any child who has vomited will be looking pale.' 'Pneumonia is common but the sepsis progression is rare, and progression into septic shock even rarer,' he added. Dr Haidar arrived at the hospital at around 7:15 am when Pak was given an oxygen mask to help him breathe. He was intubated and given adrenaline but he entered cardiac arrest. In her statement read out at the start of proceedings, Pak's mother Li Lai Ma said she 'strongly felt there were missed opportunities' for staff to help Pak and 'possibly save his life.' 'When he was given an oxygen mask, he was clearly distressed and weak, but was trying to speak and say something,' she said. 'I will never forget the image of him struggling to speak while they covered his mouth again and again. That moment is burned into my mind.' 'I told him to fight and be strong so he could come home with us. After the final cardiac arrest I started shouting at them to keep going but the doctor said he was gone. 'We were both just devastated. We all said goodbye and just held each other. Our healthy, happy child, it felt impossible to understand.' 'My son was misdiagnosed and critical opportunities to save his life were missed. I strongly believe that had a consultant been informed earlier, his death could have been prevented. 'It was a serious infection but they did not escalate his care and did not listen when I told them something was wrong. 'All I want is for the real reason for his death to be known and for the court to look into the treatment from the staff involved. They did not take their responsibility seriously enough.' Like the other witnesses, Dr Haider offered his 'deepest condolences' to the family at the end of his statement. 'I want them to know that we did all we could to save him,' he said. The inquest continues.
