Finding into death of Lachlan James Bingham

71y · Male·Strychnine toxicity

Lachlan Bingham, aged 71, died from strychnine toxicity on 13 April 2007 at his rural property. The coroner concluded he intentionally ingested strychnine to end his life. Key evidence included a blood strychnine concentration of 0.8 mg/L (fatal range), DNA matching the deceased on the strychnine bottle, handwritten notation 'THE END' on a gout information sheet, and circumstantial factors including declining health, family conflict, and farm debt. The coroner rejected alternative theories of accidental ingestion or third-party administration despite detailed scrutiny. Expert evidence confirmed strychnine's rapid effects and that the deceased could have remained lucid enough to make phone calls between muscle spasms. The case was characterized by substantial procedural criticism of the police investigation but without evidence of bias or collusion.