Inquest into the Death of Leighton Michael WOOD
Inquest into the Death of Leighton Michael WOOD
Delivered on : 24 June 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Jenkin
Recommendations : No
Orders/Rules : No
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : Leighton Michael Wood (referred to at the inquest and in this finding as Leighton” at the request of his family) was 44-years of age when he died in Wembley from bronchopneumonia in the setting of combined drug effect on or about 18 November 2023.
Leighton’s medical history included: schizoaffective disorder, obesity, back pain, anti-social personality disorder, hearing impairment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impaired blood glucose levels, and obstructive sleep apnoea, for which he used a CPAP machine at night.
Leighton’s mental health conditions were complicated by his non-compliance and/or misuse of prescription medication, and his history of polysubstance use including alcohol, methylamphetamine, and cannabis. Leighton was usually managed in the community under the care of a mental health service (the Clinic), but on several occasions when he was floridly psychotic, he was admitted to hospital.
At the time of his death, Leighton was the subject of a community treatment order (CTO) which required him to attend regular appointments at the Clinic and consent to his depot injections
At about 1.40 am on 19 November 20239, Leighton was discovered sitting in a chair in the lounge room by his ex-wife who had been staying with him for a few days. Leighton was unresponsive and not breathing, and his ex-wife called emergency services. Ambulance officers arrived and confirmed that Leighton was deceased. Following an investigation, police concluded there was “no evidence of criminality, third party involvement or suspicious circumstances” in relation to Leighton’s death.
The coroner was satisfied that it was appropriate for Leighton to be managed on a succession of CTOs on the basis that he lacked the capacity to make treatment decisions about his mental health. The coroner was also satisfied that the supervision, treatment, and care that Leighton received while he was the subject of successive CTOs was of a good standard. Further, despite Leighton’s often aggressive and abusive behaviour, the coroner found that Clinic staff, and in particular Leighton’s case manager, continued to provide Leighton with compassionate and appropriate care.
Catch Words : Community Treatment Order : Schizoaffective Disorder : Polysubstance Use : Accident
Last updated: 14 July 2025