The coroner dealing with an inquest into the death of a female who was found hanged in a stairwell at her ex-partner’s flat in Tenby town centre has concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances behind her death.

Twenty-five-year-old Michaela Marie Haines, was found dead at the address in Tudor Square after Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the premises in the early hours of December 23, of last year, to reports of a death of a woman at the location. The cause of death was given as asphyxia by hanging.

At a recent pre-inquest hearing, concerns were raised by the family of Miss Haines’ who originally hails from Pembroke Dock, that her death had been immediately treated as suicide, and that the police investigation that had ensued had been inadequate.

The family felt that the police had failed to gather relevant evidence, and that they did not believe that Miss Haines would have killed herself.

At a hearing at Milford Haven town hall today (Thursday), Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton stated that the principal concern raised by the family was the effectiveness of the police investigation which led police to conclude there were no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement in Ms Haines’ death.

“The officers who gave evidence remain of the view that this was a non-suspicious death,” said Mr. Layton at the hearing.

“The questions raised in this inquest are whether the decision to treat this death as a coroner’s investigation was the correct one and whether the opportunity to gather evidence was missed.

“I conclude that the decision to treat Ms Haines’ death as non-suspicious was the correct one. There is no evidence of third party involvement,” he continued.

A toxicology report stated that levels of the drug GHB were found in Miss Haines’ blood, which can be produced naturally by the body.

“The toxicologist explained that gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an endogenous compound and found in the post-mortem blood of almost all individuals, but that the level detected did not support any suggestion of third party involvement,” explained Mr. Layton.

Mr. Layton concluded that Miss Haines had gone alone back to the block of flats where her former partner lived in the early hours of December 23, and used the scarf that she was wearing as a ligature to suspend herself from the bannister.

“However, I do not find beyond reasonable doubt, which is the standard of proof that I must apply, that she intended to take her own life. No note of her intention was left,” said Mr. Layton.

“She knew her former partner would be returning to his flat. My view is that this was a cry for help. It follows that I do not record a conclusion of suicide, I record an open conclusion,” he stated.

As to whether the opportunity to gather evidence was missed, Mr. Layton told the hearing that the System for Tasking and Operational Resource Management (STORM) report used by the police force mainly to create and manage incidents reported by members of the public and to manage the deployment of operational resources on a daily basis, failed to meet its objective as a control and command tool.

“The lack of good record keeping in updating the STORM report does not able me to establish whether actions that should have been taken were acted upon,” he said.

“This has potentially led to evidence not being obtained. This specifically relates to the CCTV from the Tenby House Hotel.

“The CCTV was preserved at the request of the police. It was downloaded for them. It is no longer available much to the disappointment of the family.

“The proprietors of the hotel believe it must have been collected but its whereabouts is unknown. A properly completed STORM report would have provided a clear evidence trail,” continued Mr. Layton, stating that he would be exercising powers under Regulation 28 of the Coroner’s Rules, to send a report to the Chief Constable so that any training issues can be actioned.

“It is clear to me from what I have heard from the family and friends that Michaela is dearly missed. Her passing will have left a large hole in the lives of those who knew her. Her family has my deepest sympathy,” concluded Mr. Layton.

A statement from Miss Haines’ family following the inquest’s ‘open conclusion’ verdict stated that they were ‘concerned and disappointed’ that the coroner chose to dismiss their repeated requests to adjourn the inquest until further important evidence was obtained or considered, and that they believe that the inquest has highlighted a number of failings in the manner in which the sudden death was investigated by the police.

“This will be the subject of further litigation against Dyfed Powys Police and as such we do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further on our particular concerns at this stage,” read the statement.

“We agree that, based on the evidence before him, and the stage as which this inquest was heard, the only decision that the coronet could have arrived at was an open conclusion.

“As a family, we will continue to fight to find out how Michaela came to her death.”