Finding into death of Leigh Joseph Riley

30y · Male·Head injury; severe traumatic brain injury with global cerebral ischaemic injury, cerebellar haemorrhage, and brainstem compression resulting from blunt force trauma

Leigh Joseph Riley, a 30-year-old man with intellectual disability and substance abuse history, died from severe head injury following a physical altercation. He was punched in the face by an associate during an argument and fell backwards onto a concrete path, causing a severe occipital fracture, global cerebral ischaemic injury, and intracranial haemorrhage. He was transported to hospital with an unsurvivable injury and died after life support withdrawal. Blood alcohol level was 0.25g/dL. No medical errors are identifiable in this case; death resulted from blunt head trauma in the context of a violent altercation. The case emphasises vulnerability of individuals with intellectual disability in community settings and the devastating consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence.