Mum calls for new investigation into death of daughter, 11, found holding aerosol can
Written by News on 11/01/2019
A mother has urged Sussex Police to reinvestigate the death of her 11-year-old daughter after an inquest failed to explain the circumstances.
Georgia Newnham was found dead in her bed holding an aerosol can of Sure deodorant at her foster home in Peavehaven, near Brighton, on 15 May 2017.
In August, East Sussex coroner Alan Craze recorded an open conclusion after finding the child’s medical cause of death was cardiac arrest and solvent inhalation.
He was unable to establish the circumstances of her death and said: “Frankly, I cannot make my mind up. This is very rare for me.”
Georgia’s biological mother, Joanne Lewendon, said the lack of conclusive findings was “not good enough” and has launched an online petition calling for “justice” for Georgia.
She believes the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death may be suspicious and claims the original police investigation was not thorough enough.
She said: “The police investigated like she had fallen off her bike. I don’t feel the investigation answered all of the questions surrounding her death.
“This is my daughter we are talking about. She was an outgoing, loving and happy little girl.
“We still don’t really know what really happened before she died.
“Something isn’t right – I will fight for answers until I find out the truth.”
Ms Lewendon said she is seeking legal advice on how to progress her campaign as well as considering reporting the Sussex force to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
The inquest was told Georgia was fit and well, did not take medication and had not been to hospital for eight years.
It also heard conflicting accounts of her use of deodorant.
Her foster mother, Casandra Copping, told the coroner Georgia was self-conscious about body odour and started using deodorant but was “100% not abusing solvents” and never put on deodorant under her duvet.
Teacher Jane McCaughan, head of Year 7 at Peacehaven Community School which Georgia attended, said her personal hygiene was “not of concern” and there was “absolutely no doubt” she was well-cared for.
She also said there was no suggestion Georgia had a substance abuse problem.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said the force carried out a “thorough investigation, focusing on how she died whilst taking the advice of medical experts”.
He said: “There was no evidence to suggest any suspicious circumstances or the involvement of a third party; her room was initially treated as a potential crime scene and items were seized to ensure that evidential integrity was maintained ahead of any post-mortem and forensic examination.”
He added the force was reporting the circumstances to a child death safeguarding panel to “ensure all appropriate action has been taken”.
Five people were interviewed in the course of the investigation, but no one was arrested or charged.
A spokeswoman for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said she was making inquiries about Ms Lewendon’s concerns.
In 2017, the force apologised after double killer Robert Trigg was jailed for the manslaughter of Caroline Devlin and the murder of Susan Nicholson after the initial investigation found no suspicious circumstances and the women’s deaths were attributed to natural causes.
(c) Sky News 2019: Mum calls for new investigation into death of daughter, 11, found holding aerosol can
