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Woman died after falling down stairs
A WOMAN died after falling down the stairs, an inquest has heard.
Lesley Jane Hopkins (59) died at home in Westminster Gardens, Eye on August 7. Her body was found by her partner Stewart Poole, who also lived at the address, at about 9pm.
He had last seen her when he put her to bed four hours earlier, after she had consumed a large amount of alcohol.
An inquest heard yesterday that Mr Poole told police that her drinking had become a problem in the year leading up to her death after she was forced to leave work with back problems.
Dr Benjamin Swift, a consultant forensic pathologist, said the alcohol level recorded in Mrs Hopkins’ blood was 350 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal drink-drive limit is 80mg.
Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner Gordon Ryall said: “The post-mortem concluded the cause of death to be a fracture to the neck which was consistent with her having falling down the stairs.
“There was also found to be present a very high blood alcohol level. There was no evidence of any third party involvement in the incident that led to the death.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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