Inquest opens into death of Harrogate suspected murder victim

A suspected Harrogate murder victim died from head and torso injuries, according to the coroner who opened an inquest into his death today.

Gracijus Balciauskas, 41, died just before Christmas on the night of Monday, December 20 at a flat on Mayfield Grove.

Jon Heath, senior coroner for York and North Yorkshire, said at the hearing in Northallerton today:

“Mr Balciauskas resided in Harrogate on Mayfield Grove. He was found deceased at the property the following morning.

“The provisional cause of death is by head and torso injuries. This inquest was formally opened on January 6 and adjourned pending further investigation by the police.”

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Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, of Mayfield Grove, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 38, of no fixed abode, appeared at York Magistrates Court last month charged with murder.

They did not enter pleas and the case was adjourned until February 4.

Suspected Harrogate murder victim named ahead of inquest

A suspected Harrogate murder victim has been named ahead of the opening of an inquest into his death tomorrow.

George Balciauskas, 41, died just before Christmas on the night of Monday, December 20 at a flat on Mayfield Grove.

A coroner will open an inquest into the circumstances surrounding Mr Balciauskas’ death tomorrow in Northallerton. The case is likely to be adjourned pending the outcome of the murder trial.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, of Mayfield Grove, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 38, of no fixed abode, appeared at York Magistrates Court last month charged with murder.

They did not enter pleas and the case was adjourned until February 4.

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Harrogate hospital patient died after becoming disconnected from ventilator

A woman died at Harrogate District Hospital after she became disconnected from a ventilator.

Karen Smith, 44, died on October 25 last year. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding her death opened in Northallerton this week.

The inquest heard how Ms Smith became disconnected from her ventilator on October 24 and died the following day as a result of a suspected hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Jonathan Heath, senior coroner for North Yorkshire, adjourned the inquest for a full hearing at a later date yet to be confirmed.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We wish to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Karen Smith.

“Until the inquest has concluded we are unable to comment further.”

North Yorkshire Police appoints new deputy chief constable

North Yorkshire Police has appointed a new deputy chief constable following the retirement of Phil Cain, who had been with the force for more than 20 years.

Mabs Hussain, who is currently with Greater Manchester Police as assistant chief constable, will take up the role on January 3.

Prior to his time in Manchester, Mr Hussain spent 22 years at West Yorkshire Police where he served at every rank as a detective.

As chief superintendent, he was the commander for Wakefield and also spent time as commander for the Leeds district. He was awarded an MBE in 2018 for his services to charity and policing.

Mabs Hussain

Mr Hussain said:

“Yorkshire is very close to my heart, as I was born here and I also live here. I will be working hard to ensure that North Yorkshire remains one of the safest places to live and visit in the UK.”

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Chief constable Lisa Winward added:

“His extensive policing background and experience will be a credit to the force and I am very much looking forward to working with him as part of our chief officer team.”

Jenni Newberry, acting North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Our executive management team has been involved in this selection process which was made difficult in the best of ways by the quality of the candidates being considered.”

Mr Cain is paid £123,648. A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said it didn’t have the information yet on Mr Hussain’s salary.

Pictured: (left to right): New North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain, acting police, fire and crime commissioner Jenni Newberry and chief constable Lisa Winward.

Parents’ tribute to Harrogate girl on acne drug who took her life

The heartbroken parents of a Harrogate schoolgirl who was on an acne drug when she took her life paid tribute to her at an inquest today.

Annabel Wright, 15, was found dead in her room on the evening of May 1, 2019. Her parents discovered her body.

Harrogate District Hospital had prescribed the schoolgirl, who attended St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate, the drug Roaccutane, also known as isotretinoin, to treat her acne.

Giving evidence at an inquest in Northallerton today, Helen and Simon Wright said Annabel was a happy child with no history of depression.

Ms Wright said:

“Annabel was the brightest child. She was easy going, happy and she never had any issues. She enjoyed school and had a great set of friends there.

“I believe that Roaccutane led to her suicide. Normal, happy people like Annabel don’t just commit suicide without any signs or anything leading up to it.”

Concerns about drug’s link to suicide

The inquest heard that in January 2019 Annabel had self-harmed. Mr and Ms Wright discussed the incident with their daughter but did not mention it to the doctor, as they did not think it was linked to her medication.

When Annabel was first prescribed Roaccutane in October 2018, Ms Wright raised concerns about the drug after reading articles online linking it with suicide.

The doctor told Ms Wright she believed there was no causal link between the drug and increased risk of suicide.

Mr Wright said of his daughter:

“She was perfect. We adored Annabel and she adored us, we were a close-knit family.

“My wife and mother-in-law had taken our son out to a young farmers’ club on the day that Annabel died.

“I came home from work late at around 8pm and went to see Annabel in her room when we had a chat about the Spanish exam she took that morning.”

Mr Wright later went downstairs for dinner. When the rest of his family got back they went to check once again on Annabel.

Mr Wright found his daughter’s body and called for an ambulance, which took Annabel to hospital in Harrogate where she later died.

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Parents say risk should have been made clearer

Mr and Ms Wright both said they believed Roaccutane was the cause of Annabel’s suicide and blamed the hospital for not making the risks clearer.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust to respond to the Wrights’ claims.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director at the trust, said:

“We wish to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Annabel Wright.

“Following Annabel’s tragic death, the trust commenced an investigation and our findings have been shared with Annabel’s family and HM Coroner.

“Until the inquest has concluded we are unable to comment further.”

The inquest into Annabel Wright’s death continues.

Samaritans are available 365 days a year for people in need of support. You can call them free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

Ripon construction worker died from head injuries, inquest told

A construction worker who died on a building site in Ripon has been named at the opening of an inquest today.

Dean Christopher Myers, 56, died on January 13 at the site on the corner of Whitcliffe Avenue and Harrogate Road.

The inquest at Northallerton heard that Mr Myers, from Scotton, is suspected to have died from a severe head injury.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said:

“While in the course of his work as a ground worker for a construction company, he was struck by a moving bucket on a digger.

“The cause of death, which is yet to be fully determined, was provisionally found to be a severe head injury and blunt force trauma.”

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The inquest, which will determine the cause of death, was adjourned until a later date.

North Yorkshire Police issued a brief statement the day after the incident saying:

“Police were called to a report of an industrial incident in Ripon at about 10.30am on Wednesday.

“A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.”