An inquest has concluded that a 42-year-old man from Menai Bridge, Anglesey, died from a drug-related cause and did not intend to take his own life. Graham Murray, also known as Nozz, was found unresponsive on a bed in a flat at Tyddyn Mostyn in Menai Bridge in July.
Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for north west Wales, ruled that Mr Murray's death was drug-related. The inquest in Caernarfon heard that Mr Murray had been using cocaine and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication. He had been sleeping on a mattress in the flat, where he was residing with a friend.
Friend's account of the night
Mr Murray's friend Gary Griffiths said he left the flat at 3.30am on July 22 because the property was "absolutely boiling". In a statement, Mr Griffiths said that he, Mr Murray and another friend were all "heavily under the influence" of substances or Strongbow cider.
Mr Griffiths said he left Mr Murray in front of the fireplace in good spirits. When he returned, he found Mr Murray lying on the bed. "At first I thought he might be sleeping. His eyes were half open," he said. Mr Griffiths then noticed a syringe protruding from Mr Murray and said: "I started panicking for him. I pulled the syringe out and threw it on the floor."
He spotted a note "in Nozz's handwriting" beside Mr Murray's right hand and began CPR. Mr Griffiths instructed his other friend to call an ambulance. The call handler directed the friend to find a defibrillator, but the friend returned empty-handed after entering the incorrect code into the box. An ambulance later arrived, but Mr Griffiths said: "I knew Nozz had gone." He was unable to detect a pulse and noted that Mr Murray's lips had turned blue.
Evidence from police and mental health services
Detective Constable Delyth Shakespeare of North Wales Police said she attended the flat and observed Mr Murray wearing only grey Puma shorts, with dark marks visible on his chest.
The inquest heard that Mr Murray had been receiving support from Ynys Môn mental health services. A community services manager said Mr Murray had attended an appointment in February this year, where he reported hearing voices "mumbling in the distance since adolescence" but denied having any suicidal thoughts. He was described as future orientated and someone who "would not act to end his life", particularly given the potential impact on his mother. Mr Murray also revealed that his Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit had been cut by half.
Coroner's conclusion
A pathologist who conducted a post mortem examination concluded that Mr Murray died from "acute cocaine toxicity", noting his reported "significant mental health difficulties". The pathologist suggested the "drug administration may have been intentional", though stressed it was for the coroner to establish whether any intent existed.
Ms Riley said she had initially been minded to conclude that Mr Murray intended to take his own life, until she examined the contents of the note and considered the testimony of his mother, Kay Lowe. She said: "However having further read the notes and considered the evidence of his mum Mrs Lowe, I find the wording is not indicative of an intention to end his life. In fact, the opposite." Noting that Mr Griffiths had left him "in good spirits", she ruled the death drug-related.
Mr Murray's mother, Kay Lowe, said she had known her son had been carrying the note for nearly a decade. "He thought he would die at 33," she told the inquest. Following the hearing, Mrs Lowe appealed for people to support the mental health charity Live 2 Live, which promotes kindness. She wore a hoodie bearing one of the charity's key messages: "Dear person behind me the world is a better place with you in it."
