Inquest held into death of Sunderland man in Queensland, Australia

Christopher Neil Howarth, 42, sadly died in Southport, Queensland area of the country on Monday, October 22 last year.

An inquest was formally opened into his death in December of that year by Sunderland Coroner Derek Winter and was adjourned.

At Sunderland Coroner’s Court on Friday, December 6, at 11am, it was concluded that the cause of his death was suicide.

The inquest heard how Christopher was originally born in Sunderland but had since relocated to Australia.

Formal identification took place on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

Sunderland Coroner’s office has been liaising with coroners in Australia to investigate and confirm the cause of Christopher’s death.

At the hearing at the coroner’s court at Sunderland Civic Centre, Mr Winter said he was now able to carry out a final inquest in the tragic case.

It was confirmed that police found that there were “no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement.”

Coroner's Officer Neville Dixon read evidence from Australian police reports which said: “It seems that he did die having intentionally jumped from the building.

“He took his own life and intended to do so.”

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