Woman took overdose after becoming ‘prisoner’ in home

A coroner concluded a 48-yearold woman deliberately took an overdose of drugs because she had no quality of life.

Arnya Holden was found dead in bed by neighbours who became concerned after seeing her partner, Greg Newholm, in a bad way outside their shared flat in Roseholme, Maidstone, early on the morning of November 27.

Mr Newholm told them both he and Miss Holden had been smoking heroin the night before. He required immediate hospital treatment himself.

A post mortem revealed Miss Holden had ingested a cocktail of eight drugs, including morphine at a fatal level.

Miss Holden was in very poor health. She suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which meant even the slightest movement left her breathless.

She was bed- ridden and had been unable to leave her house for two years except to attend hospital. She also suffered from agoraphobia and depression.

DS Scot Winteridge said a total of three suicide notes were eventually found in the flat, one dated September 13, one dated October 27, and a third undated.

Coroner Georgina Gibbs said Miss Holden had written the notes in “a clear and intelligent way” which explained she felt she was “a prisoner in her own home and simply couldn’t carry on.”

Miss Holden’s mother, Quita Litherland, said her daughter had talked of taking her own life ever since she was 17. But more recently she had said: “If I could go to Switzerland, I would.”

After coming out of hospital in October, for treatment for her COPD, Miss Holden said: “I am NEVER going in hospital again.”

In a social media post her partner told a friend that Arnya’s death had “been a year in the planning” and “she didn’t remain conscious long enough to take the last ingredient.”

Police never got to interview Mr Newholm about her death, as he died days later. Greg Newholm’s death had been probed by Kent Police’s Professional Standards Department, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

This was prompted because he had contacted the force before his death to report problems with his medication.

Both investigation teams concluded there were no police failings in relation to the 52-year-old’s death, which was reported to the IOPC because of the contact Mr Newholm made.

The IOPC referred it for local investigation and internal enquiries found the force acted correctly and there was no wrongdoing from any officers.

It concluded there was no link between the deceased’s death and his earlier contact with Kent Police. The IOPC confirmed there is no need for further investigation.