Man Overdoses on Zoloft: Verdict by Coroner is Suicide
Summary:
Paragrapn one reads: "A MAN found dead in his car near a North Dorset church committed suicide, an inquest ruled."
Paragraph 3 reads: "Pathologist John Mikel said the Mr Northover, of Hod View, Stourpaine, died from an overdose of the drugs codeine and sertraline [Zoloft] and left ventricular hypertrophy – thickening of the heart muscle."
Suicide verdict after man found dead in car in North Dorset
12:00pm Thursday 25th August 2011
A MAN found dead in his car near a North Dorset church committed suicide, an inquest ruled.
David Owen Northover, 50, was found dead in the car park of the Holy Trinity Church in Stourpaine near Blandford on May 11.
Pathologist John Mikel said the Mr Northover, of Hod View, Stourpaine, died from an overdose of the drugs codeine and sertraline and left ventricular hypertrophy – thickening of the heart muscle.
Dr Mikel said toxicology reports showed there was paracetamol, codeine and sertraline in Mr Northover’s blood and, although not at fatal levels was likely to have contributed to the bus driver’s death.
The inquest heard Mr Northover, had a history of anxiety and depression but at his last mental health assessment on April 5 this year appeared well.
In a statement Mr Northover’s sister Lynn Bowden paid tribute to her brother.
She said: “He was a lovely lad who would do anything for anyone.”
PC Shane Hewitt said he discovered Mr Northover in the back of his car with a note on the front seat.
Recording a verdict of suicide deputy coroner for West Dorset Alan Horne said: “I’m satisfied from the note that was left that David sadly intended the consequences of his actions.”