James Morrison's former partner left note on door before she was found dead, inquest hears
The former partner of singer James Morrison took her own life after suffering mental health difficulties, an inquest has heard. Gill Catchpole was found dead by James, 39, at her home in Whitminster, Gloucestershire, on 5 January.
Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court heard a friend had gone to Gill’s home and found a handwritten note on A4 paper attached to the front door saying, “Don’t come in, call the police”. The friend had gone to the adjacent property where the musician lived and James had used keys to access the property and found his former partner’s body.
Police and paramedics were called, and Gill was pronounced dead at 9.37am. Detective Sergeant David Kania, who investigated the sudden death, ruled out any third-party involvement.
“A friend of the deceased had attended when they saw a sheet of A4 sheet of paper with the words written, ‘Don’t come in, call the police’,” the officer said in a statement.
“The friend went to the house and raised the ex-partner, who located a set of keys to the annexe house where upon they entered and found the deceased. Upon entering the living room, I saw a series of handwritten notes on the lounge table which were addressed to the deceased’s ex-partner, family and friends.
“There were no signs of a disturbance or third-party involvement. It has been relayed to me that close friends and family had indicated that Gill had been suffering with her mental health for the last year or so and since the split from her ex-partner.
“It is likely that this had a further negative detrimental impact on her mental health which culminated in her taking actions which led to her untimely death.”
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as “ligature suspension”. Toxicology tests found an alcohol level of 190mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal drink drive limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood.
The inquest heard the toxicologist was unable to determine “whether or not or the degree” to which the use of alcohol had impacted upon Gill’s state of mind at the time of her death. The court was told she had suffered from kidney disease since 2008 and later underwent a kidney transplant.
In a written statement, GP Dr Emma Basker said Gill had also suffered from “reoccurring mental ill-health”, including anxiety and PTSD, and had received medication, counselling and psychological therapy.
Gloucestershire area coroner Roland Wooderson recorded a conclusion of suicide.
“It is quite clear to me that, sadly, at the relevant time Gill was in a difficult place mentally. It is entirely clear to me that the contents of those notes indicate that Gill unfortunately was in a very difficult place at the time of her death. Having reviewed the evidence I have, it seems to me sadly that the appropriate conclusion on the balance of probabilities I will record a conclusion of suicide," the coroner said.
Friends and family members of Gill, including her mother, father and step-father, who attended the hearing did not comment as they left.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story you can contact Samaritans in the UK and Ireland on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
