A coroner has ruled that a father who killed his two-year-old daughter and himself in a car crash on Father's Day 2023 acted deliberately. Ashley Henry, 36, and his daughter Oria died when his car pulled into the path of a lorry on the A153 between Ruskington and Anwick in Lincolnshire.
The inquest at Grimsby Town Hall heard that Henry had left a suicide note outlining his intention to end both their lives. Coroner Jayne Wilkes said there was no evidence of a fatal assault, toxicological or natural causes, but ruled Oria's death an unlawful killing. She concluded that Henry's actions were deliberate and intended to kill his daughter before the collision.
Father and daughter had spent the weekend in Skegness. Oria was last seen alive at 10:48 BST on 18 June. Henry was driving back to Leicestershire with Oria strapped into her child seat when dashcam footage showed his car deliberately steering into the path of an oncoming HGV without braking.
Henry, from Leicester, was estranged from his partner and had limited access to Oria at weekends. The coroner noted he had a history of anxiety and depression and was struggling with the breakup. A note recovered from his computer set out his plan to kill himself and his daughter on Father's Day.
Oria's mother, Rachael Leader, described her loss as 'a slow torture' and said she was still in shock six months on. She previously paid tribute to Oria, saying she brought 'so much light, love and happiness'.
