Man left partner’s body in bed for days because he thought she was sleeping

A man left his partner's body in bed for four days believing she was asleep, unaware she had died from alcohol poisoning, an inquest has heard.

Lyudmila Skotcher, aged 45, was found dead at her Norwich home after the shocking ordeal in October last year.

Norfolk Coroner's Court was told emergency services were eventually contacted on October 16, with medical professionals understanding the woman lay dead for several days.

Matthew Burgess, who had been in a relationship with Ms Skotcher for 18 months, repeatedly visited and departed from the property of his own accord.

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The coroner concluded there was no third-party involvement in her death, and Mr Burgess was not implicated in any way.

The couple had purchased alcohol together on October 12 before returning to Ms Skotcher's home, according to reporting from the Eastern Daily Press.

Mr Burgess informed police that she felt unwell that evening, and said she needed to rest.

Upon checking on her, he first assumed she had fallen asleep or lost consciousness from consuming a large quantity of vodka, the court heard.

He placed a blanket over her and left the property, finding her in the same position the following morning - failing to seek medical attention believing she was simply still in bed hungover.

It was only in the early hours of October 16 that he contacted emergency services, having noticed a change in her appearance and a powerful odour coming from her body.

The death was initially treated as suspicious after Mr Burgess proved unable to recall Ms Skotcher's name when speaking with emergency services, and bruising was discovered on her abdomen.

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A paramedic informed the inquest that Mr Burgess had first claimed to have never been to the property, despite being captured on CCTV.

It wasn't until a post-mortem examination eliminated any third-party involvement in her death, with the coroner recording alcohol intoxication as the cause of death.

A pathologist determined Ms Skotcher had ingested an extremely large amount of alcohol, and likely lost consciousness before dying in an unsafe sleeping position.

Assistant coroner Christopher Leach confirmed she was more than four times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Ms Skotcher's former husband Stephen, with whom she shared a son, expressed his ongoing distress over the delay to provide medical assistance to the property.

He said: "Her partner should have realised the first night and done something you don't just leave someone there for days."

Mr Leach was aware of Ms Skotcher's lengthy history of alcohol use, and said concerns had been raised regarding her partner's conduct.

Yet, he added: "A police investigation and medical conclusions mean I am satisfied there is no evidence of any third party involvement in her death."

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