RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH (WITHOUT INQUEST)

Coroners Act 1995
Coroners Rules 2006
Rule 11

I, Robert Pearce, Coroner, having investigated the death of

Miss R

WITHOUT HOLDING AN INQUEST

FIND:

(a) The identity of the deceased person is Miss R, born in Queensland;

(b) Miss R died between approximately 3.00am and 5.30am on 4 September 2011 as a result of her taking her own life by hanging at 65 Hargrave Crescent, Mayfield in Tasmania;

(c) The cause of her death is injury caused by hanging;

(d) No other person contributed to the cause of Miss R’s death.


Circumstances:

1. Miss R was aged 16.  She lived with her mother at 65 Hargrave Crescent in Mayfield.  She attended Launceston College and had part time employment. Her parents separated when Miss R was very young.  Since then her father has lived in Queensland but maintained a relationship with Miss R and was on good terms with her.  Miss R was the youngest of three daughters.  She was close to her sisters.

2. Sometime after 9pm on Saturday 3 September 2011 R left home to go to a party with friends at Rocherlea.  She was back home again by the time her sister, Ms E, arrived home at 2.30am.  Her mother was in bed.  At about that time Miss R also responded to a Facebook message sent by a friend.  After a squabble with Ms E about smoking, Miss R went to the garage at her home which is used as a shed.  According to Ms E, Miss R commonly spent time there. Ms E went to bed.

3. At about 5.30am the following morning Miss R was found by her mother hanging from a dog lead suspended from a metal beam running across the garage ceiling.  A table was near where Miss R was found.  Her body was cold and there was obvious injury to her neck.  Unsuccessful attempts were made to resuscitate her.  I am satisfied that by the time that she was found Miss R was already dead.

4. No note was left.  However there is no evidence to suggest the involvement of another person in Miss R’s death.  There were no signs of disturbance in the garage.  Toxicology testing disclosed low levels of alcohol, paracetamol and codeine.

5. Miss R had no serious health issues.  She had not sought treatment for any psychological condition or complaint.  She was upset about the breakdown of her relationship with a boy who was a few years older than her.  There is some evidence that this led to some minor self-harm by cutting.  She made some general conversational comments to friends about suicide.  Without understating the significance of those comments viewed in hindsight there was little to warn her family or friends that she had a serious intention to harm herself.  As is often the case with teenage children she was not receptive to her mother’s attempts to discuss personal issues with her.

6. I am satisfied that Miss R took her own life.

Comments & Recommendations:

7. I have decided not to hold in inquest into Miss R’s death.  The investigation has sufficiently disclosed the identity of the deceased person, the time, place, the relevant circumstances concerning her death and the particulars needed to register her death under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act.  No other a person contributed to the cause of Miss R’s death.  I do not consider that an inquest is likely to elicit any further information concerning the issues that I am required to determine.

8. There is no need in this case to make any other comment or recommendation.


I convey my sincere condolences to Miss R’s family.

 

DATED: 20 August 2012 at Launceston in Tasmania

 

Robert Pearce
CORONER