Questions remain in the case of an "extremely popular" woman found dead in her home while a friend slept nearby. Kathleen Doherty, 52, was found unresponsive, face-down in a bath filled with water on February 26 last year.
Kathleen, who was known as Kathy, was found by a friend who had visited her flat on Meols Cop Road, Southport, that day. She was reportedly moved from the bath by the friend and another man who had been sleeping in the property at the time, and was placed on a bed.
Post-mortem findings
A post-mortem examination found she had cocaine and alcohol in her system, as well as high levels of diazepam and pregabalin, a prescribed medication for treating epilepsy, anxiety and nerve pain. However, a pathologist was unable to determine her cause of death. At the inquest at Bootle Town hall today, July 30, coroner Anita Bhardwaj said multiple causes of death had been considered, including drug toxicity, drowning, suffocation and mechanical asphyxiation. The pathologist ultimately recorded the 52-year-old's cause of death as "unascertained".
Delay in calling emergency services
The court heard an ambulance had been called to Meols Cop Road by one of Kathy's friends at 6.30pm on February 26 - but there had been an unexplained delay in contacting emergency services. Ms Bhardwaj said: "Due to inconsistencies in the accounts of Kathy's associates and due to the delay in contacting ambulance services, two individuals were arrested in connection with Kathy's death." Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder, and were bailed pending further enquiries.
A police investigation was carried out, including a forensic examination of the flat, witness identification and trawling of CCTV. Ms Bhardwaj said: "Despite the time discrepancies, that were unable to be resolved, police concluded there was no evidence of any third party involvement in Kathy's death." Finding there was insufficient evidence to determine the circumstances of death, she recorded an open conclusion.
Family tribute
Following Kathy's death last year, her family said in a statement issued through Merseyside Police: "We are all devastated by the loss of our sister Cathy. She was fun-loving, kind and considerate. She will be greatly missed by all her family." Ms Bhardwaj said: "Kathy's sister described Kathy as an animal lover who won awards for playing chess as a teenager and enjoyed socialising. She worked at a Liverpool restaurant as a teenager and used to attend raves and parties with her family and friends. She was extremely popular and very fashion savvy with amazing clothes."
Kathy later moved to Devon, where it was heard she was introduced to harder drugs. At age 38 she moved to Bristol, attended rehab and "got her life back on track", and worked in a care home. Ms Bhardwaj said: "That was before, unfortunately, she was reintroduced to hard drugs, and that continued and sadly her mental health suffered, and she cut herself off from her friends and family."
