An inquest into Adam Pieri’s death was held at Winchester Coroners’ Court on Monday, December 6, after he was found dead on September 11, 2023.
A post-mortem by consultant histopathologist Dr Balvinder Shoker, at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, found heightened levels of methadone in his system, but could not indicate whether Mr Pieri had taken his own life deliberately.
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Winchester Coroner’s Court (Image: Newsquest.) Mr Pieri, who had a history of substance abuse and antisocial behaviour, with stints in prison and homelessness, was found dead at Milford House.
In a statement by Tenancy Support Officer Sam Myall, who works for Winchester City Council, she reported staff had not noticed Mr Pieri’s death and only found his body after some time.
Staff said they had noticed a ‘bad smell’ but assumed it was an existing plumbing issue. Ms Myall told them it smelled more like a ‘wound’ than bad plumbing and proceeded to perform checks on residents and rooms before she found Mr Pieri.
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In statements given by Ms Myall and the police, it was noted Mr Pieri’s room was littered with drug paraphernalia. Due to the length of time between his death, the investigation and the autopsy, it was difficult to establish many details due to decomposition.
In the ensuing toxicology report by Peter Street from Hampshire Scientific Service, a mix of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs and alcohol was found.
The drugs, some of which were prescribed to Mr Pieri for a range of illnesses and disorders, such as epilepsy, were at or below therapeutic levels – except for methadone.
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According to the coroner’s report, the level of methadone in his system was consistent with previously reported fatalities.
Although it was not possible to suggest if Mr Pieri had taken his own life, there was no evidence linking ‘third parties’.
Coroner Simon Burge ruled the death as ‘drug-related’ and thanked Adam Pieri’s brother, Paul Pieri, for the detailed statement he sent. In the statement, Paul wrote that his brother had been an active, perhaps hyperactive, and happy child who struggled after his parents had divorced when he was around eight.