Stourbridge man did not intend to kill himself, inquest hears

Liam Powell, aged 27, of Churchill Drive, Stourbridge, was found hanging from an attic hatch by his father on February 3 last year.

The hearing was told Liam had been a regular drug user since the age of 14 and was found to have cocaine, cannabis, diazepam and morphine in his system.

He had been due to take a place at the Atlantic House rehabilitation centre in Lye the following day.

Liam's father, Robert Powell, of Kingsway, Stourbridge, said his son had been in good spirits, but had become paranoid after an incident with a drug dealer.

Mr Powell said: "Although he was staying at a friends house at the time, he had asked to come back to my house after an appointment we had at the rehabilitation centre.

"Usually he would go outside to take drugs but he was doing it openly whilst he was tidying around the house, which he did when he was using.

"He went out to buy more drugs and when he came back he closed all the curtains and became very paranoid as he had underpaid the dealer and was worried they were going to come for him.

"As the day went on I became more and more concerned for him."

Mr Powell said his son had spent the previous day playing with his son, and had not shown any desire to hurt himself.

Later on, on the evening of February 3, he found his son in the attic.

"I asked him to come down and he said he would," Mr Powell said. "I went downstairs and called his mum and explained to her that I was starting to worry about him, that this was more than just the drugs."

Mr Powell said he then heard a bang from upstairs. He went to investigate and found his son.

Mr Powell said that Liam had tried to harm himself previously, but usually as a cry for help, and had been talked down.

The court heard Liam had called friends asking them to stop him, but he was not taken seriously.

Paramedics were called but Liam was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coroner Mr Zafar Saddique said he believes Liam's attempt was a cry for help.

He said: "I am not convinced he intended to take his own life and from what I have been told I believe it was a cry for help.

"My conclusion is that this was an accidental death. It is an absolute tragedy.

"It becomes even more tragic when you consider the fact that Mr Powell was seeking help for his drug addiction.

"I would like to express my condolences to his family."