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Open verdict on Newbury man who fell from A339 bridge




Coroner cannot say what led to the death of James Lewis

A CORONER has recorded an open verdict after a Newbury man fell to his death from a bridge onto the A339 in October last year.

James Lewis, 36, died after falling from the bridge over the A339 between the Robin Hood roundabout and the Vodafone roundabout at around 10pm on October 26.

Mr Lewis, who had a history of drug and mental health problems, was declared dead at the scene.

He had been struck by at least two vehicles following the fall before emergency services were called.

An inquest held at Reading Town Hall on Tuesday, May 10, heard how a witness had seen Mr Lewis smoking a cigarette on the bridge just before 10pm, however the events immediately before the fall will forever remain unclear.

In the days leading up to his death, Mr Lewis had spoken to family members on the phone discussing his previous failed relationships and how his friends had been tormenting him.

It was later revealed that Mr Lewis’ current relationship had recently ended after his partner had discovered that he was once again using drugs.

According to his former partner, Mr Lewis had threatened to self-harm and even end his life in the past.

The former Turnpike School student had previously been diagnosed with depression in 2009 and paranoid schizophrenia in 2011.

While Mr Lewis had been taking medication for the condition, a doctor’s report told how, leading up to the night of October 26, Mr Lewis had lessened his dosage, as he was often known to do.

His family had previously raised concerns over this and had asked case workers if Mr Lewis’ medication was being monitored correctly.

A toxicology report found no alcohol in Mr Lewis’s system but noted that the levels of prescribed antipsychotic medication in his system were below the generally prescribed therapeutic level.

Conducting the inquest, senior coroner for Berkshire Peter Bedford explained how he could not be sure that Mr Lewis intended to take his own life, pointing to a possible schizophrenic episode or the possibility that Mr Lewis accidentally fell.

He said: “The police are content there was nothing suspicious.

“However, the law says I have to be satisfied beyond all doubt that he intended to take his own life.

“Nobody saw what actually happened on the bridge.

“For me to conclude that he took his own life I have to have more than what I have got.”

Following his death, tributes flooded on to social media from friends and family in memory of Mr Lewis, while flowers were left at the scene.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News in October, Mr Lewis’s brother Phil had said: “I am so lucky and proud to call James my brother.

“He was an amazing brother, dad, uncle and friend. James has left me with so many great memories, which will stay with me for the rest of my life.”



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