Finding into death of GARETH THORNTON

48y · Male·Multiple injuries consistent with a jump from a height (14 storeys); broken neck with non-survivable brain injury

Gareth Thornton, aged 48, with a 24-year history of paranoid schizophrenia, died from multiple injuries sustained in a 14-storey fall from his housing commission flat in Carlton, Melbourne, on 15 December 2007. The coroner found he intentionally jumped during an acute psychiatric relapse. The incident was preceded by increasingly agitated and aggressive behaviour, including disturbances at a local market and assaults on residents at his building. When police responded, Mr Thornton became further agitated, was sprayed with OC spray, then removed his clothing and jumped from his balcony. He sustained multiple injuries including a broken neck and non-survivable brain injury. Toxicology revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.140%. The coroner noted that Mr Thornton had been non-compliant with neuroleptic medication due to side effects and had not been treated since 2001, despite his diagnosis requiring ongoing management. The coroner found police conduct was appropriate and professional.