Inquest into death of Edward ENGLISH

CORONERS COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES Inquest: Inquest into the death of Edward English Hearing date: 21 November 2022 Date of findings: 21 November 2022 Place of findings: NSW Coroners Court - Lidcombe Findings of: Magistrate Elizabeth Ryan, Deputy State Coroner Catchwords: CORONIAL LAW – death of inmate at Long Bay Hospital – natural causes death – care and treatment appropriate.

File number: 2021/63278 Representation: Coronial Advocate assisting the inquest: Sgt K Mackay.

Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network: K Guilford, Justice Health.

The Commissioner, Corrective Services NSW: A McShane, Department of Communities and Justice, Legal.

Findings in the Inquest into the death of Edward English

Findings: Identity The person who died is Edward English.

Date of death: Edward English died on 4 March 2021 Place of death: Edward English died at Long Bay Correctional Centre Hospital, Matraville NSW 2036 Cause of death: Edward English died as a result of the effects of ischaemic heart disease. Significant contributing conditions were liver cirrhosis and pulmonary hypertension.

Manner of death: Edward English died as a result of natural causes, while he was in lawful custody.

Non publication orders prohibiting publication of certain evidence pursuant to section 74(1)(b) of the Coroners Act 2009 [the Act] have been made in this inquest. A copy of these orders, and corresponding ones pursuant to section 65(4) of the Act, can be found on the Registry file.

Section 81(1) of the Act requires that when an inquest is held, the Coroner must record in writing his or her findings as to various aspects of the death.

On the morning of 4 March 2021 Edward English aged 87 years died in his cell at Long Bay Correctional Centre Hospital. These are the findings of an inquest into his death.

The role of the Coroner

1. The Coroner must make findings as to the date and place of a person’s death, and the cause and manner of death.

2. In addition, pursuant to section 82 of the Act the Coroner may make recommendations in relation to matters which have the capacity to improve public health and safety in the future, arising out of the death in question.

Findings in the Inquest into the death of Edward English

Background facts

3. Edward English was born on 5 April 1933 and was raised in Sydney. After completing his schooling he worked for most of his life as a car sales representative.

4. Mr English married in 1956 and had a son and a daughter. He and his wife separated around 1885, and he commenced a new relationship. He married his second wife in 1995.

5. In November 2019 Mr English was charged with a serious child sexual offence. He was convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of nine years with a five year non parole period.

6. On entering custody Mr English received a health screen. This identified serious medical conditions of cardiomyopathy, heart disease, liver cirrhosis and pulmonary hypertension. He also suffered Bowen’s disease, a form of skin cancer.

7. While in custody Mr English received regular medical treatment for the above conditions. On 4 February 2021 he was transferred to Long Bay Correctional Centre’s Aged Care and Rehabilitation Unit, where he was managed by a palliative care team. A decision was made that he would not be resuscitated if he became unresponsive.

8. On 2 March 2021 Mr English’s blood pressure dropped and his condition gradually deteriorated. He was found unresponsive inside his cell on the morning of 4 March 2021, and was pronounced deceased soon afterwards, The post mortem report

9. An autopsy examination was performed by forensic pathologist Dr Elsie Burger. Dr Burger found the cause of Mr English’s death to be the effects of ischaemic heart disease. Mr English’s coronary arteries were heavily calcified, and his pulmonary arteries were dilated. There was oedema of the abdominal wall, pelvic walls and lower limbs, as well as fluid in the abdominal and pleural spaces, features in keeping with terminal heart failure.

10. Dr Burger found in addition that liver cirrhosis and pulmonary hypertension had contributed to Mr English’s death.

Findings in the Inquest into the death of Edward English

Mr English’s medical care while in prison Having reviewed the records of Justice Health and of Corrective Services NSW, I am satisfied that the medical care and treatment which Mr English received while in prison was appropriate and adequate. Mr English’s wife holds no concerns about his welfare while he was in prison, and believes that he received good care.

Conclusion The time, place, manner and cause of Mr English’s death are able to be established on the evidence. There is no evidence of individual or systemic deficiency in the care and treatment he received. There is no basis for making recommendations in this inquest.

I thank Coronial Advocate Karissa Mackay for her assistance in the preparation and conduct of this inquest, and Detective Senior Constable Mark Franklin for his preparation of the brief of evidence.

I convey to Mr English’s wife my sincere condolences for his death.

Findings required by s81(1) As a result of considering all of the documentary evidence and the oral evidence heard at the inquest, I am able to confirm that the death occurred and make the following findings in relation to it.

Identity The person who died is Edward English.

Date of death: Edward English died on 4 March 2021 Place of death: Edward English died at Long Bay Correctional Centre Hospital, Matraville NSW 2036 Cause of death: Edward English died as a result of the effects of ischaemic heart disease. Significant contributing conditions were liver cirrhosis and pulmonary hypertension.

Manner of death: Edward English died as a result of natural causes, while he was in lawful custody.

I close this inquest.

Magistrate E Ryan Deputy State Coroner, Lidcombe 21 November 2022 Findings in the Inquest into the death of Edward English