Former rugby league star Ricky Bibey attacked his partner Jennie Platt in a Florence hotel room while high on cocaine and alcohol, leaving her with life-changing injuries, before being found dead, an inquest has heard. The 48-year-old father-of-three died of 'neck compression', a post-mortem concluded.
Attack in Florence hotel room
Jennie Platt told Rochdale Coroners' Court that she 'fought back' during the violent struggle with the 6ft 2in former athlete, who weighed almost 19 stone, before passing out. The attack occurred at the Continentale Hotel in Florence on July 16, 2022. Ms Platt said she suffered life-changing injuries requiring intensive care and multiple surgeries.
Ms Platt, giving evidence remotely, said she had travelled to Italy with Mr Bibey in an attempt to resurrect their relationship. She described his behaviour as 'really erratic' before the trip, and said he had gone 'on a bender' days before. She initially decided not to go but changed her mind after he showed her a noose in his flat.
Cocaine and alcohol consumption
Once in Florence, the pair went out. Mr Bibey bought a bottle of prosecco, gave her one glass and then 'downed the rest', Ms Platt said. He kept 'disappearing' and she thought he was buying drugs. She admitted she also consumed some drugs. Back in the room, she heard him snorting cocaine. She said she asked him what he was doing and told him she would get another room, but he 'yanked her out' when she grabbed a duvet to sleep in the bathroom.
Ms Platt said she 'fought back' and later thought he had left. When he returned, she said 'it was like it wasn't him'. 'It was like his eyes. It was like a demon. His eyes were quite glazed and then it was like a big argument,' she said. She told the inquest she was 'really scared' and tried to get away, kicking him 'as hard as I could' and shouting the names of her sons to stop him.
Discovery of death
Ms Platt said she remembered her 'last breath' before losing consciousness. When she came round on the bathroom floor, she saw Mr Bibey 'hanging' with a ligature around his neck. She attempted to resuscitate him without success and banged on a door for help. She ended up in intensive care and was unaware of how she was hurt until Italian investigators showed her photographs.
Detective Inspector Clare Harrison of GMP told the court that when Ms Platt was well enough, she was interviewed as a suspect rather than a witness by Italian police, who initially treated the case as a potential murder. Florence detectives later took no further action against her, concluding she was so badly hurt she 'physically would not have been able' to apply the force required to his neck.
Post-mortem and toxicology
Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson, who conducted a second post-mortem after the body was repatriated, recorded the cause of death as 'neck compression', consistent with the Italian autopsy. He noted injuries including a bruise on the scalp, abrasions to the head, neck, limbs and right wrist, and bruising on his knuckles. He could find no ligature marks to the front or back of the neck. Abrasions to his nose indicated he had probably been pinched on the nose or snorted cocaine.
Toxicology tests revealed cocaine in Mr Bibey's system, although the amount 'wasn't high', and alcohol consumption. Dr Wilson admitted the pattern of ligature marks – none at the front or back – were 'a bit perplexing' and did not 'fall into any pattern to suggest self-suspension hanging'.
Mental health and addiction history
The court heard Mr Bibey had struggled with mental health problems and drug addiction after retiring from rugby. He received residential treatment at Sporting Chance clinic, a charity for athletes with addiction, visiting in 2017, 2019 after a suicide attempt, 2021 and 2022. His father paid for him to attend private rehab clinic Acquiesce in Bolton, but he relapsed after each intervention.
His father Ronald Bibey told the inquest his son had been 'a very happy child' who excelled at sport, had a 'natural flare for rugby', and remained 'humble' despite success. His mental health deteriorated when a ruptured Achilles tendon forced his retirement. 'Like most people's lives, he made mistakes along the way and he's never to shy to take responsibility or say sorry,' said Mr Bibey snr.
Open verdict
Assistant Coroner Lisa Judge recorded an open verdict, with the medical cause of death as 'neck compression'. She said although the evidence showed Mr Bibey placed the ligature around his own neck, it did not establish on the balance of probabilities whether he intended to end his life. She found he had been 'floundering' after retirement and that drugs and alcohol 'materially affected his personality and judgement'.
Ms Judge said she accepted Ms Platt's account that she had been 'subjected to serious violence by Rickey Bibey' and had acted to 'defend herself'. Her injuries were 'not compatible with her being responsible for any act of violence' while she had suffered 'exceptional trauma'.
