Inquest opens into the death of Marion Munns

21st October 2016

Winchester Coroner’s Court, Castle Hill, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UL

Before HM Coroner Grahame Short

Starts 24 October 2016, expected to last four days

The inquest opens on Monday into the death of 75-year-old Marion Munns, who died on 12 November 2015 after apparently falling from a motorway bridge on the M27.

Members of Marion’s family had earlier called mental health workers from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s community mental health team after she became distressed at home. Marion’s body was found after the family discovered that she had left the house through an upstairs window and reported her missing.

The year before her death, between August and November 2014, Marion was admitted informally as an inpatient to Berrywood Ward at Western Hospital, Southampton after becoming depressed and experiencing suicidal thoughts. Following her discharge she was placed under the care of the community mental health team. During the summer of 2015, Marion’s mental health deteriorated rapidly. The family contacted the mental health team on numerous occasions expressing the need for an urgent response. They are hoping the inquest will address the level of care provided to her by Southern Health and whether or not their mother’s death could have been prevented.

INQUEST has been working with the family of Marion Munns since February 2016. The family is represented by Rebecca Brown from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and Caroline Cross from One Crown Office Row Chambers.

Ends

 

Notes to editors:

For media queries, please contact Gill Goodby at [email protected]

Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.

INQUEST provides specialist advice on deaths in custody or detention or involving state failures in England and Wales. This includes a death in prison, in police custody or following police contact, in immigration detention or psychiatric care. INQUEST's policy and parliamentary work is informed by its casework and we work to ensure that the collective experiences of bereaved people underpin that work. Its overall aim is to secure an investigative process that treats bereaved families with dignity and respect; ensures accountability and disseminates the lessons learned from the investigation process in order to prevent further deaths.