Artist died from alcohol poisoning

AN inquest has ruled that a ‘talented artist’ from Runcorn who suffered from long-term drinking problems was killed by acute alcohol toxicity.

Social workers found Emma Josephine Knight, 47, dead in bed at her home at 1 Robin Close in Murdishaw on June 20 last year.

She was not breathing and emergency services were called.

Claire Welch, area coroner for Cheshire, told the inquest that toxicologist Christopher Madden had found Miss Knight’s blood to contain alcohol levels of 325 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), slightly below the usual fatal level of 350 mg/dL.

A statement from pathologist Dr Jessica White that was read to the court said alcohol could depress the centres of the brain stem and cause breathing to stop.

Her body mass index was not large enough to have been a factor, nor was a small trace of cannabis in her system.

She had been released from HM Styal Prison days earlier on June 14 and social workers said she had been in a good mood and looking forward to returning home.

The inquest heard that the deceased had lived a ‘chaotic’ lifestyle and had struggled with drink and substance misuse issues.

The social workers who found Miss Knight said her front door and window were open but this was not unusual as she often left them like that and it had been a warm summer night.

Detective Sergeant Ian Smith reported that there were no signs of struggle, injury or anything else to suggest third-party involvement or foul play, resulting in the death being ruled as non-suspicious.

Miss Knight was born in Liverpool in 1969 and had later moved from her mother’s home to live with her father in Runcorn.

She later moved to Exeter then to Wirral where she stayed in supported accommodation then back to Runcorn where she was assisted in buying her own house.

A statement from Debbie Daforno, Miss Knight’s social worker, friend and registered next of kin, said Miss Knight had been a talented artist and ‘remarkable woman’ who had tried to kick her drinking habit including a six-month treatment programme with a rehabilitation centre.

However, the drink lured her back in her final days and when she was released from prison she asked to be taken to Runcorn Asda where she bought a bottle of Cava sparkling wine, which she said she was going to drink with lemonade outside while the weather was good.

Social care staff warned her of the dangers of binge drinking.

Miss Knight had been visited the day before her death with an arrangement for a follow-up the next day and had seemed ‘happy.

The coroner recorded a verdict that Miss Knight died from acute alcohol toxicity.