INQUEST: Leanne Thompson. Source: Supplied
THE father of a troubled teen who died by hanging in 2006 says he agrees with a coroner's finding that she most likely killed herself.
Coroner John Lock this morning ruled out homicide in the death of troubled teenager Leanne Thompson, then 15, on September 7, 2006, when she was living with her drug abusing boyfriend Alex O'Sachy.
"Alexander O'Sachy had been heard to tell her to kill herself on multiple occasions, including on the day she died," Mr Lock told Brisbane Coroners Court today.
"The extent to which her state of mind was affected by drugs he made available to her and/or was brought upon by his abusive actions or the extent to which she was otherwise encouraged or in some way assisted by him is and remains uncertain."
Leanne's father Damian Rockett, who always believed his daughter's death was a result of suicide, said outside court he agreed with the Coroner's findings, which he said were "very eloquent".
He said he did not believe drug trafficker Alex O'Sachy, who refused to answer questions at the inquest, would ever provide details of his daughter's final moments.
"I feel very sorry for the next woman he associates with," he said.
Sgt Rockett said he hoped the child protection inquiry would recommend the Child Safety department be given more power to protect children like Leanne.
He said the department had no power to take children and stop them returning to people like Alex O'Sachy.
"At the present time children can refuse to get psychological treatment," Sgt Rockett said.
"A child that age is immature and may make wrong decisions, like my daughter did."
Leanne's mother Di Thompson, who believed her daughter was killed and cried in court when Mr Lock delivered his suicide finding, declined to comment outside court.
In 2010 Linda Hart, who lived next door in 2006, told police that on September 7 she saw Alex O'Sachy and his brother Daniel assault and hang Leanne under their house around 12.16pm.
Mr Lock said her version of events was not supported by forensic evidence.
He said the terminal event occurred around 3.45pm, when Linda Hart was not even at home.
He said all forensic pathologists agreed that for the Queensland Ambulance officers to obtain a heart beat Leanne was likely to have been hanging for five to 10 minutes, or perhaps longer, but not for hours.
"If Ms Hart saw anything it was not the event when Leanne Thompson suffered the hypoxic brain damage from which she died," Mr Lock said.
Mr Lock said Ms Hart may have seen or heard something shocking that day and upon learning what had happened she thought what she heard or saw was Leanne being hung.
He found the cause of Leanne Thompson's death was hypoxic brain injury, due to or as a consequence, of hanging.
Mr Lock has referred his findings to the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry to make recommendations about improvements to the child protection system and care of high risk young people.
He said the evidence supported a clear finding that Leanne, despite being on a child protection order, disengaged with Child Safety and continued to exhibit high risk behaviours, placing her at considerable risk of harm.
"Tragically, those risks became all too true," Mr Lock said.
- For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
- For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
- The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263) or at www.sane.org
