Woman in suicide took white spirits

Apr 17 2007 By Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

A WOMAN killed herself by drinking white spirits after she heard she had a potentially terminal illness, an inquest heard.

The body of Shelia Barbara Dawson, aged 59, was found by her husband in the bath of her home on Truro Walk in Chelmsley Wood on January 4, it was told.

It is believed that Mrs Dawson had consumed a quantity of the liquid after she learned that she had cancer of the cervix.

A police officer who visited the house said there were no suspicious circumstances and no evidence that anybody else had been involved in Mrs Dawson's death.

Birmingham Coroner Aidan Cotter heard how Mrs Dawson had kept the devastating news of her illness to herself and had never made an attempt to take her life in the past.

Mr Cotter said: "She did it intending to die, she left no note, no letter, no warning. She had a very serious illness and kept it to herself and did not disclose it anyone else."

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Cotter said Mrs Dawson had taken her own life.