Pair who died in council flats lived as recluses

A PENSIONER who lay dead and forgotten in his council flat for over a year may have been overcome by smoke while trying to put out a toaster fire.

Michael Clarke, 86, had lived in his small bedsit in Wellington’s Newtown Park flats for nearly 30 years when he died in June 2010. His body was not discovered until August 2011.

The inquests into the deaths of Mr Clarke and Wiremu Whakaue, another council tenant whose body was not discovered until long after his death, were held yesterday in Wellington District Court before coroner Ian Smith.

Constable Carmen Stewart said Mr Clarke was found lying on his back in the sitting room. A supermarket receipt, dated July 1, 2010, along with a newspaper dated July 2, were found inside.

Police inquiries found just one friend of Mr Clarke. He had listed his next of kin on documents at the Public Trust.

‘‘Police believe Mr Clarke chose to keep his life very private to others,’’ Ms Stewart said. There were signs of fire inside the small flat and a toaster, thought to have caught alight, was found on the floor of the lounge, she said.

‘‘It appears that the occupant became aware of the fire and may have thrown the blanket and other items at the fire in an attempt to smother the fire.

‘‘It appears he then stood up from his armchair to exit the room but was overcome by the smoke layer and has fallen to the floor.’’

The fire eventually put itself out. Police believed that the lack of a smoke alarm in the flat contributed to the length of time that passed before Mr Clarke was found. Mr Clarke’s flat, he said the wing of the complex looked ‘‘semi-derelict’’, and he saw a makeshift home in the laundry room. ‘‘The council person found that a person was squatting ... this lady had made it into a home with bed, clothing, shoes, everything.

‘‘I mean, someone was actually living, had set up a house . . . There is something out there that we’ve got to sharpen up on,’’ Mr Smith said.

City council support services manager for city housing, Peter Hunter, told the court the squatter had since been found other accommodation. ‘‘That particular laundry space has been blocked up with plywood so people can’t live in it.’’

Police told the court that Mr Whakaue, 68, had last paid a power bill on June 2, 2009. His body was found on March 4, 2010, by a council staff member during a fire alarm check by a subcontractor.

Contractors had knocked on his door four times that year but left after getting no reply. Genesis Energy cut off his power in August 2009 and the council raised his rent by $3, despite his being dead.

Police spoke to neighbours who said that, when they last saw Mr Whakaue, he had been coughing frequently.

Neighbours said some occupants of the flats had noticed a bad smell, but when it disappeared after a while, no-one bothered any further about it.

The pathologist found his cause of death was ‘‘unascertained’’, but said coronary artery disease could have been a possible cause.

Mr Smith’s decisions and any possible recommendations will be published later.