Paul Smith, 40, thought to have started a fire that killed an elderly couple, was found dead in a wheelie bin a week later, an inquest has heard.
Smith, also known as Smigger, is believed to have started the blaze at the home of Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, in St Helens in July last year. The couple were rescued but died in hospital from burns and smoke inhalation.
Discovery of Smith's body
Smith's body was found seven days after the attack, in a bin where it had been moved after he died in a bath having taken a cocktail of drugs, the inquest heard on Wednesday. The hearing at the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool was told police were called on July 22 by Steven Wales, who said a man had either drowned or overdosed in a bath at a property on Coniston Street, Everton, two days earlier.
Senior coroner for Liverpool Andre Rebello said: “Merseyside Police were deployed and located a male, deceased, in a wheelie bin at the rear of derelict properties on Thirlmere Road, which backs on to Coniston Street and is separated by an alleyway. The deceased male was identified by police as Paul Joseph Smith.”
Toxicology and cause of death
Home Office pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall reported toxicology results showing Smith had taken heroin close to the time of death, as well as a “relatively large amount of cocaine” and several sedatives. Dr Lyall said drowning could not be proved or excluded, adding: “Neither can it be entirely excluded that the deceased was held under water by a third party, but pathological findings cannot prove that occurred.” He recorded the cause of death as mixed drug toxicity.
The court heard police were satisfied the death was not caused by criminality. Mr Rebello said it was understood there were ongoing criminal proceedings regarding the disposal of the body.
Coroner's conclusion
Recording the death as drug-related, the coroner said: “He died from taking illicit and sedative drugs which caused respiratory failure.”
Earlier this year, Kevin Weetman, 34, Kylie Maynard, 37, and Lee Owens, 46, were jailed for the manslaughter of Mr Greener and Ms Jackson. A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that Smith had travelled with Owens to the home just after 12.30am on July 15. Weetman was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for planning the attack after Mrs Jackson's son refused to sell drugs for him. Maynard, described as the “trusted lieutenant” in Weetman's drugs line, was jailed for 23 years and Owens received 13 years and six months.
