Cor7
COR REF: CSU-2018-DUN-000327
CERTIFICATE OF FINDINGS
Section 94, Coroners Act 2006
IN THE MATTER of
Polly Anna Arabella Ruth RIDDELL
The Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Wellington
As the Coroner conducting the inquiry into the death of the deceased, after considering all the
evidence admitted to date for its purposes, and in the light of the purposes stated in section 57 of the
Coroners Act 2006, I make the following findings:
Full Name of deceased:
Polly Anna Arabella Ruth RIDDELL
Occupation:
Artist
Sex:
Female
Date of Birth:
09 September 1978
Place of Death:
6 Bedford Parade
Brighton
Dunedin
New Zealand
Date of Death:
16 October 2018
Cause(s) of Death
(a). Direct cause:
Cardiorespiratory depression
(b). Antecedent cause (if known):
Multi-drug toxicity resulting in depressant effect on the central
nervous system
(c). Underlying condition (if known):
Pneumonia
(d). Other significant conditions
contributing to death, but not related
to disease or condition causing it (if
known):
Circumstances of death: Described in my findings dated 30 May 2024.
These findings and my reasons for making them are set out in my findings dated 30 May 2024.
Signed at Christchurch on 30 May 2024.
Coroner Elliott
CS0007
IN THE CORONERS COURT
CSU-2018-DUN-000327
AT CHRISTCHURCH
I TE KŌTI KAITIROTIRO MATEWHAWHATI
KI ŌTAUTAHI
UNDER
THE CORONERS ACT 2006
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
An inquiry into the death of
POLLY ANNA ARABELLA RUTH
RIDDELL
Date of Findings: 30 May 2024
FINDINGS
[1]
Polly Anna Arabella Ruth Riddell died on 16 October 2018 in a property occupied
by Karl Longshaw in Dunedin.
[2]
For reasons described below, Mr Longshaw was charged with a criminal offence
relating to the circumstances of Ms Riddell’s death. The coronial inquiry was adjourned
pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
[3]
Mr Longshaw was sentenced in the High Court on 16 October 2023. I
subsequently resumed the coronial inquiry. After giving notice as required by section 77
of the Coroners Act 2006, I have completed findings in chambers.
The circumstances of Ms Riddell’s death
[4]
Ms Riddell was 40. Her medical history included anxiety, depression, drug
addiction and overdoses and undertaking methadone programmes.
[5]
However, despite her difficulties in the past, Ms Riddell’s circumstances
improved in the year before her death. Her GP said:
2
Her mental outlook during the year prior to her death had been greatly
improved and was much more positive, with no suicidal ideation
articulated.
[6]
Ms Riddell last saw her GP on 16 August 2018. He said:
She had an optimistic air about her as she was looking forward to shifting
to a new house in Oturehua, she had been enjoying contact with her
parents…and she looked more physically healthy than I had previously
seen her.
[7]
Ms Riddell travelled to Switzerland in September 2018, where she celebrated her
40th birthday.
Events of 13-16 October 2018
[8]
On 13 October 2018, Ms Riddell travelled from Oturehua to Mr Longshaw’s
residence in Dunedin.
[9]
At 6.04pm on 15 October 2018, Ms Riddell left a message on the phone of a
neighbour in Oturehau:
I’m in Dunedin at the moment, ‘cos I thought I needed to get out of Dodge
for a couple of days. I’m still quite keen to come and stay at your house
truck if it’s possible…I’m thinking about heading back to Oturehua
tomorrow, so I’ll either come and swing by or give you a call tomorrow…
Lola and I are really looking forward to coming and staying at your
beautiful house truck.
[10]
When sentencing Mr Longshaw, the High Court described what took place on 15
and 16 October 2018:1
[6] You were both at your address on the evening of 15 October 2018. Just
after 9.30 pm, Ms Riddell spoke to a relative on the phone for over 25
minutes. That relative told the Police that Ms Riddell’s mood was flat,
which was out of character. That evening you observed Ms Riddell take her
usual medication. When that was is not clear. Unbeknownst to you, at some
point Ms Riddell also self-administered a quantity of non-prescription
medication, including methadone, morphine and MDMA.
[7] You became suspicious that she had consumed non-prescription
medication and asked her if she had taken drugs. She denied having done
so. Again, exactly when that exchange took place was not clear. You
nevertheless remained concerned she had taken drugs, and you took it upon
yourself to take care of her. You told the Police that you monitored her
condition from the first time you questioned her about drugs through until
the following afternoon of 16 October 2018, a period of several hours.
[8] At around 5 pm that afternoon, your concern for Ms Riddell’s well-
being had heightened. The summary of facts records that you mistakenly
believed that she was suffering from pneumonia. You took steps to ensure
her mouth was open and her airways clear. At 5.58 pm you called 111 and
you said, “I think my partner is dead”. Emergency services arrived a short
time later. Tragically, Ms Riddell was confirmed to have died.
1
R v Longshaw [2023] NZHC 2902 16 October 2023
3
The cause of Ms Riddell’s death
[11]
Dr Leonard Wakefield, pathologist, performed a post-mortem examination of Ms
Riddell’s body. Dr Wakefield found superficial linear scars on her left forearm and lower
abdomen which were consistent with self-harm. He found no fresh or recent wounds or
injuries.
[12]
Toxicological analysis of Ms Riddell’s blood identified the following:
(a)
Methadone at a level of 0.6 milligrams per litre. This level is associated
with normal use by tolerant users but is also associated with methadone-
related fatalities.
(b)
MDMA at a level of 0.1 milligrams per litre. This level is consistent with
recreational use of MDMA but has also been associated with toxicity.
There was however no history that would indicate MDMA toxicity nor
was there a history of the conditions that may induce toxicity.
(c)
Morphine at a level of 0.02 milligrams per litre. This level is consistent
with normal use but is also at the low end of the range associated with
morphine related fatalities.
(d)
Zopiclone, diazepam, pregabalin and tramadol at levels that appeared to
be consistent with normal use.
(e)
Paracetamol at a level lower than expected for recent use.
(f)
Doxepin at a level that was too low to confirm.
[13]
Dr Wakefield found evidence of evolving pneumonia. He said this was most likely
due to aspiration and suggested that Ms Riddell’s protective airways reflexes had been
negated by central nervous system depression.
[14]
Dr Wakefield concluded that the cause of Ms Riddell’s death was
cardiorespiratory depression in the context of polypharmacy (also known as multi-drug
toxicity) which resulted in depressant action on her central nervous system and
pneumonia.
[15]
Dr Wakefield said:
[Ms Riddell] may have survived had she been transferred to a medical
centre and received appropriate medical treatment soon after she became
non-responsive and developed respiratory compromise. I cannot put a time
on this, other than to say before her hypoxic state became sufficiently
severe that vital organ failure and subsequent cardiac arrest occurred.
4
Police investigation
[16]
Police carried out an investigation into Ms Riddell’s death. This took some time.
The outcome was that Police decided to charge Mr Longshaw with manslaughter. Shortly
before trial, the Crown laid an alternative charge of neglect of a vulnerable adult. Mr
Longshaw pleaded guilty to this charge.
[17]
When sentencing Mr Longshaw, the High Court said:
[37] The offence of neglecting a vulnerable person is a serious offence. As
much is recognised by the fact it has a maximum penalty of ten years
imprisonment. There is no tariff case for this offending. That reflects the
vast array of factual circumstances that might give rise to this charge.
[38] A civilised society imposes both a duty and standards on individuals
who, regardless of the circumstances, have assumed the responsibility of
caring for a vulnerable person. It imposes a duty and standards to take steps
to ensure that a vulnerable person is not exposed to suffering, injury or
adverse effects. If there is a major departure from that standard, then the
omission becomes criminal. You accept your failing was a major departure
from the standard of care that you owed to Ms Riddell.
[39] Your failing was not as prolonged as the other cases to which I have
been referred, but it certainly was not momentary. The call for assistance
should have been made hours earlier, immediately once Ms Riddell was
unresponsive. A simple 111 phone call when you could not rouse Ms
Riddell would have discharged your legal duty. You failed to appreciate
the seriousness of Ms Riddell’s condition because, it seems, you
overestimated your ability to assess and respond to the situation that was
unfolding. That you suspected but did not know she had taken a lethal
cocktail of drugs does not excuse your failing to appreciate that she was in
dire need of medical assistance. Not when Ms Riddell was in an
unresponsive state for so long.
[18]
Mr Longshaw was sentenced to seven and a half months’ home detention.
FINDINGS
[19]
During the evening of 15 October 2018, while at the home of Karl Longshaw,
Polly Riddell self-administered quantities of methadone, MDMA and morphine. She had
also recently taken zopiclone, diazepam, pregabalin and tramadol. The combined effect
of these drugs resulted in depressant action on Ms Riddell’s nervous system and she
became unresponsive.
[20]
Mr Longshaw did not seek medical help for Ms Riddell until 5.58pm on 16
October 2018, by which time she had already died. The High Court said that the call for
assistance should have been made hours earlier, immediately once Ms Riddell was
unresponsive.
5
[21]
The cause of Ms Riddell’s death was cardiorespiratory depression resulting from
multi-drug toxicity which resulted in a depressant effect on her central nervous system
and pneumonia. Her death was accidental.
[22]
Ms Riddell may have survived if she had received appropriate medical treatment
soon after she became non-responsive and developed respiratory compromise.
[23]
Mr Longshaw was convicted by the High Court for the crime of neglect of a
vulnerable adult.
CONCLUSION
[24]
My inquiry has now concluded. I offer my condolences to Ms Riddell’s family
and friends.
CORONER ELLIOTT
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