Richmond & Twickenham Times
Thursday 11th September 2008
By Ian Mason
Uncertainty still surrounds the death of a Twickenham teenager who collapsed and died during a night out in Cambodia after a coroner recorded an open verdict this week.
David Northmore, 19, had been drinking and smoking what could have been opium when he collapsed in a nightclub in Phnom Penh on May 15, 2007. He died shortly after.
Traces of alcohol, morphine, codeine and diazepam were found in his blood and urine by pathologist Dr Robert Chapman, but a lack of “clear evidence” prompted deputy coroner, Elizabeth Pygott, to return an open verdict at Fulham Coroner’s Court yesterday.
David went to Thailand at the end of March last year with close friend Nicholas Stapleton – son of GMTV presenter John Stapleton – and later met up with Sam Rickett.
Sam told the court when they arrived in Phnom Penh on May 14 the group met John, an American bodyguard.
Between midnight and 1am, having drunk around five bottles of beer each in a bar, Nicholas went back to the guest house while David and Sam went elsewhere with John. The court heard the events of that night became hazy after they entered a club.
“Apparently we collapsed within the club and were put in a tuk-tuk and taken to hospital,” said Sam.
He admitted they were smoking what they thought to be cannabis but said, on reflection, “it might have been opium, or it’s possible we had our drinks spiked”.
Nicholas’ statement mentioned David had smoked cannabis in the past but treated any other drug taking as “a mug’s game”.
Cambodian Police report David died on his way to the medical facility while Sam and John woke up in hospital the following morning.
Dr Chapman produced a pathology report on May 29 after David’s body was flown back, along with blood and urine samples that David’s father had arranged to be taken before the body was embalmed.
After hearing the reports, Ms Pygott said: “I am left somewhat unsatisfactorily with recording an open verdict.”
Thursday 11th September 2008
By Ian Mason
Uncertainty still surrounds the death of a Twickenham teenager who collapsed and died during a night out in Cambodia after a coroner recorded an open verdict this week.
David Northmore, 19, had been drinking and smoking what could have been opium when he collapsed in a nightclub in Phnom Penh on May 15, 2007. He died shortly after.
Traces of alcohol, morphine, codeine and diazepam were found in his blood and urine by pathologist Dr Robert Chapman, but a lack of “clear evidence” prompted deputy coroner, Elizabeth Pygott, to return an open verdict at Fulham Coroner’s Court yesterday.
David went to Thailand at the end of March last year with close friend Nicholas Stapleton – son of GMTV presenter John Stapleton – and later met up with Sam Rickett.
Sam told the court when they arrived in Phnom Penh on May 14 the group met John, an American bodyguard.
Between midnight and 1am, having drunk around five bottles of beer each in a bar, Nicholas went back to the guest house while David and Sam went elsewhere with John. The court heard the events of that night became hazy after they entered a club.
“Apparently we collapsed within the club and were put in a tuk-tuk and taken to hospital,” said Sam.
He admitted they were smoking what they thought to be cannabis but said, on reflection, “it might have been opium, or it’s possible we had our drinks spiked”.
Nicholas’ statement mentioned David had smoked cannabis in the past but treated any other drug taking as “a mug’s game”.
Cambodian Police report David died on his way to the medical facility while Sam and John woke up in hospital the following morning.
Dr Chapman produced a pathology report on May 29 after David’s body was flown back, along with blood and urine samples that David’s father had arranged to be taken before the body was embalmed.
After hearing the reports, Ms Pygott said: “I am left somewhat unsatisfactorily with recording an open verdict.”
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