Recording a verdict of non-dependent abuse of drugs, Ceredigion Coroner Peter Brunton said Michael had died needlessly.
The teenager, from Llanon, Ceredigion, had taken drugs before but he was not an habitual user, Mr Brunton added.
The hearing in Aberystwyth on Tuesday heard how the 12-year-old girl – who is now 13 and who cannot be named for legal reasons – supplied morphine and diazepam to Michael at her parental home on 3 May last year.
In November last year, the girl was sentenced to a two-year supervision order at Swansea Crown Court after admitting supplying the drugs.
| This was a young life cut short at 16 totally needlessly Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton |
Her mother, who suffers health problems and is on prescribed medication, was in intensive care in hospital at the time of the party after suffering serious injuries in a road accident.
Giving evidence, the girl said she had not intended to give Michael morphine. “I thought I was giving him Valium. I did not think I was giving him morphine,” she said.
“I knew the morphine was dangerous.”
She added: “I had no idea how dangerous the problems could be. I don’t remember much of that night, things were a bit blurry.”
She was admitted to Bronglais Hospital’s intensive care unit following the party along with friends who had taken the drugs as well.
Two of Michael’s other friends, who were also at the party, also gave evidence at the inquest. One, a male, said Michael had taken at least five to 10 tablets.
A female friend told how she had tried to wake Michael by throwing water over him the morning after the party. Hours later he was pronounced dead.
Dr Christopher Simpson, consultant pathologist at Aberystwyth’s Bronglais Hospital who carried out the post-mortem examination, said Michael had died from a combined overdose of morphine and diazepam.
The inquest also heard from Michael’s mother, Bethan, who said she had last seen her son on the evening he died.
Totally needlessly
Michael, who attended a school for children with behavioural problems in Chepstow, had phoned her later that evening to ask if he could stay at a male friend’s house.
Mrs Edwards gave her permission, but later discovered Michael had lied and stayed at the 12-year-old girl’s home with other friends.
Summing up the evidence, Mr Brunton said: “Perhaps the most illuminating aspect brings home the seriousness of simply playing with drugs which are prescribed, which in the hands of those with no knowledge can be dangerous and lethal.
“This was a young life cut short at 16 totally needlessly.”
He added that Michael had taken a cocktail of drugs but two (morphine and diazepam) had effectively brought about his death.
Speaking after the inquest, Michael’s mother said she blamed all of the children for what had happened “a little bit.” But, she added, her son had been old enough to realise what he was doing.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/mid/4330437.stm
ymysgedd o gyffuriau’n lladd llanc
Bu farw llanc 16-oed ar ôl cymryd cymysgedd o gyffuriau mewn parti, clywodd cwest yn Aberystwyth.
Clywodd y llys sut y rhoddodd merch 12-oed dabledi presgripsiwn ei mam i Michael Edwards ym Mai 2004.
Wrth gofnodi rheithfarn o gam-drin cyffuriau heb ddibyniaeth, dywedodd Crwner Ceredigion, Peter Brunton, fod Michael wedi marw’n ddiangen.
“Dyma fywyd ifanc wedi dod i ben yn 16 yn gwbwl ddiangen”
Crwner Ceredigion, Peter Brunton
Roedd y llanc o Lanon wedi cymryd cyffuriau o’r blaen ond nid oedd yn ddefnyddiwr rheolaidd, meddai Mr Brunton.
Clywodd y gwrandawiad yn Aberystwyth ddydd Mawrth sut yr oedd y ferch 12-oed – sydd nawr yn 13 ac na ellir ei henwi am resymau cyfreithiol – wedi rhoi morffin a diazepam i Michael yn ei chartref ar Fai 3 y llynedd.
Yn Nhachwedd y llynedd dedfrydwyd y ferch i orchymyn goruchwylio dwy flynedd yn Llys y Goron Abertawe wedi iddi gyfaddef cyflenwi’r cyffuriau.
Roedd ei mam, sy’n dioddef problemau iechyd a sydd ar feddyginiaeth, yn yr uned gofal dwys yn yr ysbyty adeg y parti wedi iddi ddioddef anafiadau difrifol mewn damwain car.
‘Niwlog’
Wrth roi tystiolaeth dywedodd y ferch nad oedd wedi bwriadu rhoi morffin i Michael.
“Roeddwn i’n credu mod i’n rhoi Faliwm iddo.
Doeddwn i ddim yn credu fy mod yn rhoi morffin iddo,” meddai.
“Roeddwn i’n gwybod fod y morffin yn beryglus.”
“Doedd gen i ddim syniad pa mor beryglus y gallai’r problemau fod,” ychwanegodd.
“Dydw i ddim yn cofio llawer am y noson honno, roedd pethau’n eithaf niwlog.”
Aethpwyd â hi i uned gofal dwys Ysbyty Bronglais wedi’r parti yn ogystal â’i ffrindiau oedd wedi cymryd y cyffuriau hefyd.
Fe roddodd dau o ffrindiau eraill Michael, oedd hefyd yn y parti, dystiolaeth yn y cwest.
Dywedodd un ffrind gwrywaidd fod Michael wedi cymryd o leiaf bump i 10 tabled.
Dywedodd ffrind benywaidd sut yr oedd wedi ceisio deffro Michael drwy daflu dŵr drosto y bore ar ôl y parti.
Oriau’n ddiweddarach cyhoeddwyd ei fod yn farw.
Dywedodd Dr Christopher Simpson, patholegydd ymgynghorol yn Ysbyty Bronglais Aberystwyth, a wnaeth yr archwiliad post mortem fod Michael wedi marw o gyfuniad o orddos o forffin a diazepam.
Clywodd y cwest hefyd gan fam Michael, Bethan, a ddywedodd ei bod wedi gweld ei mab am y tro olaf y noson y bu farw.
‘Diangen’
Roedd Michael, oedd yn mynd i ysgol i blant gyda phroblemau ymddygiad yng Nghas-gwent, wedi ei ffonio y noson honno i ofyn a allai aros yn nhŷ ffrind gwrywaidd.
Rhoddodd Mrs Edwards ei chaniatâd, ond daeth i wybod yn ddiweddarach fod Michael wedi dweud celwydd ac wedi aros yn nghartref y ferch 12-oed gyda ffrindiau eraill.
Wrth grynhoi’r dystiolaeth dywedodd Mr Brunton: “Dyma fywyd ifanc wedi dod i ben yn 16 yn gwbwl ddiangen.”
Dywedodd fod Michael wedi cymryd cymysgedd o gyffuriau ond fod dau (morffin a diazepam) wedi achosi ei farwolaeth.
Wrth siarad wedi’r cwest dywedodd mam Michael ei fod yn beio’r holl blant “ychydig” am yr hyn ddigwyddodd.
Ond roedd ei mab, meddai, yn ddigon hen i sylweddoli’r hyn yr oedd yn ei wneud.
