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Inquest into Shaun Gray's suspected suicide to begin 8 years after death

Shaun Gray died in 2014.
Shaun Gray died in 2014. Photo credit: RNZ

This article deals with mental health problems, including suicide.

By Jimmy Ellingham for RNZ

The inquest into the suspected suicide of a Palmerston North Hospital mental health ward patient more than eight years ago is starting today.

Shaun Gray, a 30-year-old father of one, died on 16 April 2014.

The two-week inquest is being held in Palmerston North. It's expected 24 witnesses will appear.

Gray's death, and that of another mental health ward patient, 21-year-old Erica Hume, on 16 May 2014, prompted external reviews into the ward, which found systemic problems.

Since then there have been further deaths of patients.

An inquest into Hume's death is scheduled for August.

Today's inquest is before Coroner Matthew Bates, the third coroner to oversee the file.

Shaun Gray's family have said the delay into hearing the case is unacceptable.

And earlier this month family spokesman, Shaun's brother Ricky Gray, told RNZ they wouldn't play an active role by asking questions in the inquest because they weren't able to examine a key witness.

"With Coroner Bates' decision to exclude the most fundamental witness, this is a practice we don't want to condone."

The family, who have concerns about the medication prescribed to Gray, still planned to follow the inquest and see what conclusions the coroner reached.

A $35 million replacement mental health ward was due to open later this year, but documents obtained by RNZ show this has been pushed out by at least a year.

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier recently released a report into the present ward, saying it was one of the worst in New Zealand.

RNZ

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