Death threats led former prisoner to kill himself (From Gazette & Herald)

Death threats led former prisoner to kill himself

DEATH threats and the prospect of a jail sentence led tragic Lawrence Koppert to take his own life, an inquest was told.

Mr Koppert, 23, was so terrified of going back to prison he killed himself by smashing his car into an archway at a stately home.

Coroner Michael Oakley said Mr Koppert's life had "taken a nosedive" when "in his opinion" he had been falsely accused of stabbing the man his former girlfriend was going out with.

Mr Koppert, a York University student, had been arrested following an allegation of wounding, which he denied. He was due to appear at York Crown Court the day he died.

Mr Oakley said: "His life was upside down.

''He was worried at the prospect of going back to prison and had been receiving threats against himself and his family which led to him suffer considerable anxiety."

Mr Koppert's mother, Pam, 53, told the inquest: "I had seen death threats on his mobile phone."

She said her son had shown her one that said: "You're a dead man" and added that if he went to prison, "we'll have your family first".

Mrs Koppert said he had even told her to test the brakes on her car and to seal the letter box because he feared petrol could be poured through it.

The inquest was told a gardener heard an "almighty bang" in the early hours of August 15 in the road known as The Avenue between Barton-le-Willows and Slingsby at the Castle Howard Estate.

Motorist Fiona Crawshaw was one of the first on the scene.

She said she had to drive to Slingsby to get a signal on her mobile phone to raise the alarm.

Investigating officer Timothy Alderson said there was no evidence Mr Koppert had braked or steered his silver Peugeot 306 to avoid hitting the ornate Carrmire Gate archway over the road.

TC Alderson said Mr Koppert had not been wearing a seatbelt, and the engine was revving at 5,000rpm just before the crash. He said: "It is clear the car was travelling at considerable speed, and the driver had his foot down on the accelerator."

Pathologist David Morgan said Mr Koppert, of Sherburn, near Malton, died from multiple injuries, including a massive head injury.

Toxicology tests showed that Mr Kopppert had taken ecstasy and cannabis before he died.

Mr Oakley recorded a verdict that Mr Koppert killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

After the inquest, Mrs Koppert said: "I knew without a shadow of a doubt it was suicide, and I have always known that.

''But the whole thing is now over, in every sense of the word.

"It's so sad that he had to do what he did for no reason - that's the most tragic thing. I will just carry on grieving.

"He was so mature, having him around was like speaking to someone my age.

''I think of him constantly and miss him like mad."

Updated: 15:31 Wednesday, February 22, 2006