AN OPEN verdict was recorded at the resumed inquest into the death of taxi driver Norman Le Messurier. The body of the 65-year-old was recovered from the sea off Cap de la Hague at about 6pm on 19 June.
DNA profiling confirmed the identity of the popular driver. The Vale resident had been reported missing on 18 May by his brother Gordon, who had gone round that day to pick him up as was their arrangement from the day before.
At the flat Gordon found a note asking him to lock the front door and to look after the keys. It included instructions about Norman’s estate. The court heard that before his disappearance Norman had been experiencing memory and concentration problems and had required medical and hospital treatment.
The day before his disappearance, he had contacted police to ask if they were looking for him. They were not.
His brother arrived at Norman’s flat that same day and saw that he had packed a holdall as if in preparation for going to prison.
Gordon went out with Norman that afternoon and dropped him home at about 4pm on 17 May. It was the last time he was seen alive.
More than a month later Norman’s body was found. A French pathologist said the cause of death was unknown but was likely to have been drowning.
But consultant pathologist Dr Catherine Chinyama told assistant-Magistrate Cherry McMillen that she found it difficult to agree that the cause of death had been drowning.
Dr Chinyama referred to research and said it was highly unusual to be able to find the cause of death of someone who had been in the sea for such a long time.
Miss McMillen accepted there was a ‘contemplation’ of suicide from the paperwork she had seen and that the cause of death could have been drowning, but it could not be established beyond all reasonable doubt.
‘I found that the cause of death to be unascertainable and I return an open verdict,’ said Miss McMillen.
She expressed the court’s deepest sympathies to the deceased’s family.
Article posted on 22nd March, 2008 - 8.21am
Loading ...
Most Commented: