Finding into death of Glenn Stewart Hayes

IN THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA AT MELBOURNE

Court Reference: COR 2013 0592

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Inquest into the Death of: GLENN STEWART HAYES

Delivered On: 10 February 2014

Delivered At: Coroners Court of Victoria Level 11, 222 Exhibition Street Melbourne 3000

Hearing Dates: 10 February 2014

Findings of: JOHN OLLE, CORONER

Police Coronial Support Unit Sergeant McFarlane

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I, JOHN OLLE, Coroner having investigated the death of GLENN STEWART HAYES

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 10 February 2014 at Melbourne find that the identity of the deceased was GLENN STEWART HAYES born on 14 August 1976 and the death occurred on 8 February 2013 at The Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper Street, Epping 3076 from: 1(a) HYPOXIC/ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

1(6) HANGING

in the following circumstances:

1. Glenn Hayes was aged 36 years at the time of his death.

2. The coronial brief has fully addressed the circumstances of death.!

Summary Inquest

3: At inquest, a summary was read into evidence by Detective Sergeant Williamson. I am

satisfied the summary accurately reflects the evidence.

4. Glenn Hayes was admitted to the Northern Hospital on the 5 February 2013 having been

found by friends, hanging in the garage of his home at 75 Almurta Avenue, Coolaroo.

Having resuscitated Glenn, paramedics conveyed him to the Northern Hospital. He did not

regain consciousness.

Background

5. Glenn was the sixth of eight children born to Colin and Jennifer Hayes. Raised in the

Coolaroo area, Glenn left school after year 9, to pursue his passion for motor bike racing.

He subsequently competed in overseas competitions.

6. In 1998 he married Lina.

ve The marriage bore Ethan, but was a short and unhappy relationship. To their credit,

following separation, their was never issues relating to the custody of Ethan.

"A copy of the coronial brief will remain with the court file

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Employment history

In 2007 with the financial assistance of his parents, Glenn purchased a prime mover and subsequently a second truck 2010. However by 2012 the business was failing placing Glenn

under significant financial stress.

In late 2012 Glenn and Lina attempted a short lived reconciliation. In early 2013 Glenn returned to competitive speed way racing and was invited to compete in Europe. However an accident resulting in serious injuries to Glenn’s right knee curtailed the overseas plans.

He competed his last race in Australia in January 2013.

Events of 4 February

It was apparent that Glenn’s world was falling apart in early February 2013. It appears that he was abusing prescription and illicit drugs and suffering severe anger management issues.

He assaulted Lina as she tried to collect her spare keys to her vehicle on the 4 February

2013. Police were subsequently called and an intervention order was obtained. Police were unable to contact Glenn however left a calling card at his front door on the evening of 4

February.

Events of 5 February

Police returned the following day and again were unable to contact Glenn. A message was

left, requesting he contact police.

At about 11am on the 5 February Glenn contacted Lina’s mother and apologised for his conduct. He claims he could not recall any of his behaviour. He was crying during the conversation. He subsequently contacted Lina and apologised to her. He stated “he couldn’t live with this and was going to hurt himself.” He was once again upset and crying.

Lina contacted a friend of Glenn’s Sam Cannata and requested he conduct a welfare check.

Glenn’s close friends Seid Abdallah and Sam spoke to Glenn who urged they not attend

because police were looking for him. He sounded very groggy.

Sam noted that Glenn had been acting quite ‘aggro’ the previous two days.

In a subsequent conversation with another friend Mathew Jackson, Glenn explained the

mess he had made.

He was crying throughout the conversation.

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17,

19,

21,

In the early afternoon of the 5 February, Sam and Seid attended Glenn’s home and found him hanging from a rafter of the garage roof. They collected a knife and attempted to cut the leash and eventually were able to lower Glenn. Paramedics attended, resuscitated Glenn

and conveyed him to the Northern Hospital in a serious condition.

A mandatory inquest has been conducted by virtue of police contact. I am satisfied that the

role of police at all times was appropriate.

At the Northern Hospital Glenn was placed on life support and maintained an induced coma.

He died on the 8 February 2013.

Glenn’s parents explained that they were unaware that Glenn used illicit drugs. The considered that he had just ‘flipped out’ with the stress going on in his life including his relationship issues, his business failure, his pending criminal court proceedings and possibly

undiagnosed depression.”

Glenn’s sister explained Glenn occasionally used cannabis and ‘ice’. The illicit drugs caused

severe mood swings at which times, he was to be avoided.

Lina confirmed Glenn sister’s account in respect to cannabis but was unaware of other illicit drugs used by Glenn. She noted that he had a history of anger management issues and had

recently come depressed because of the leg injury and the magnitude of his financial stress.

Examination of the Victoria Police LEAP database confirms that Glenn’s prior convictions for cultivation and use of cannabis in 2001. Of more significance, there were serious criminal charges pending, relating to an alleged incident on the 19 January 2012. Further outstanding criminal proceedings related to allegations of threatening to inflicting a serious injury on a former employee from an alleged incident on 29 August 2012. Further the

alleged incident of domestic violence in respect to Lina on the 4 February 2013.

Conclusion

I endorse the conclusion of the coronial investigator:

“Investigators are of the belief that this was a deliberate attempt by Glenn to take his own life and that no other person was directly involved in assisting him to achieve

this. This conclusion is drawn from the fact that Glenn had explicitly said that he

? Medical records of Coolaroo Medical Centre, reference to treatment to psychological issues. Further a search was conducted by investigators of medicare database have identified no medical consultations other than the Coolaroo Medical Centre or the Northern Hospital in respect to the recent knee injury.

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was going to harm himself and that he didn’t want anyone to come around. The hanging occurred in an area of the premises which could not be easily accessed, it appears that Glenn did not want to be located easily. Observations and conversations had by associates with Glenn indicate that he was not himself on the day of and the days leading up to this event and that they all were very concerned with his mental

state.”?

Lam satisfied Glenn died in circumstances of suicide.

Post Mortem Medical Examination

On the 14 February 2013 Dr Malcolm Dodd, Senior Forensic Pathologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine performed an autopsy on the body Glenn Stuart Hayes.

Dr Dodd found the cause of death to be hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy and hanging.

Dr Dodd commented:

The immediate cause of death in this case is best regarded as hypoxic/ischaemic

encephalopathy in a man who has survived an episode of hanging.

The summary of circumstances report indicates the deceased attempted to hang himself at his home address on the Sth of February 2013. The person finding the deceased immediately cut him down from the ligature and commenced CPR until the arrival of the ambulance service. The MAS arrived and were unable to return cardiac function to normal status. The deceased was conveyed to the Northern Hospital by

the MAS where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Whilst in the intensive care unit, the deceased was placed on life support and was believed to have suffered irreversible damage to the brain. The deceased also was noted to have an episode of bleeding from the stomach that could not be determined ° in regards to its site of origin but traces of blood were found within the nasogastric

tube.

The deceased was pronounced as being in a status of brain death on the 8th of February 2013 and after a consultation with family, the decision was made to

withdraw life support.

3 Paragraph 26 police summary

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Finding

The external examination disclosed a well demarcated ligature indentation over the neck, tapering to the occiput. There was no evidence of offensive or defensive type injury.

The internal examination showed mild cardiac enlargement however the cardiac muscle and coronary vessels were unremarkable. The lungs were heavy and congested and showed changes of patchy to confluent bronchopneumonia.

Bronchopneumonia is not infrequently seen in cases of deep unconsciousness or

developing within those in a comatose state.

No other significant naturally occurring disease was disclosed. Patchy areas of gastric mucosal haemorthage were identified however there was no evidence of frank ulceration. This was more than likely an agonal event secondary to

hypotension and reperfusion.

Toxicological analysis of body fluids has failed to disclose evidence of alcohol.

Methamphetamine was present in ante mortem and post mortem blood at levels of 0.04 and 0.01 mg/L respectively. Amphetamine was present in ante mortem blood at a level of approximately 0.04 mg/L. Morphine (free) was present in ante mortem specimens at levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.5 mg/L. Midazolam was present in blood at levels ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 mg/L. Levetiracetam was present in blood at a level of approximately 11.2 mg/L. Alprazolam was present in blood at a level of approximately 0.01 mg/L. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol was present in blood at a

level of approximately 2 mg/ml.

The toxicologic profile indicates several illicit medications and also includes

medications used during the treatment of the deceased during his short inpatient

stay.”

I find the cause of death Glenn Stuart Hayes to be hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy and hanging.

• Comment section Dr Dodd post mortem report

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I direct that a copy of this finding be provided to the following: Mrs Jenny Hayes

Detective Sergeant Bi illiamson, Investigating Member, Victoria Police

Signature:

JOHN OLLE CORONER Date: 10/February 201

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