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Man's death was an "accident which went wrong"
By Jonathan LowOctober 10, 2012
The former partner of a man who hanged himself said she believed it was ‘an accident which went wrong’, an inquest heard.
Stephen Steadman, 47, was found on May 19, this year at his rented property in Barkham Ride in Wokingham, by landlady Margaret Cartwright, and died later that day at Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) in Reading.
At an inquest at Reading Civic Centre Mr Steadman’s former partner Karen Howell said: “I do feel that it was an accident which went the wrong way.
“I believe he was hoping to be found in time to get some help – perhaps it was a cry for help.”
She added: “I was seeing one side to Stephen, people in authority were seeing a different side and my children were seeing another side – it was very frustrating.”
Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford recorded an open verdict as he said he couldn’t be sure of the intentions of Mr Steadman, as the evidence was unclear.
He accepted Mr Steadman had been showing ‘a split personality’ to various people and was refusing medication that was being offered to him.
The inquest on Tuesday, September 25 heard Mr Steadman had gone through a break-up and was admitted to Prospect Park hospital in February, a place he said he ‘wanted to get out of’.
He also went to the Accident and Emergency department at the RBH on several occasions earlier in the year, giving different reasons for each visit.
Mr Bedford said the toxicology report was negative, with no signs of any alcohol or medication in Mr Steadman’s body, and there were no indications he was suffering from any diseases or illnesses.
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