An inquest into the death of 44-year-old Christopher William Parsons, whose lifeless body was discovered lying on a pavement in Sandown in July 2014 after being dumped on the street corner by his friend, has today (Tuesday) found that he died after taking heroin and alcohol.
Today’s inquest, held in Newport, heard how Mr Parsons – who was known as ‘Boo’ for his entire life – was spotted by Island taxi driver Jamie Skinner and his female fare-paying passenger Lucy Hillier as he lay on the pavement in Cross Street at the junction with North Street at just before 23:00 on the evening of 4th July 2014.
Police, who instantly recognised the body to be that of Christopher Parsons, attempted CPR alongside ambulance crews but sadly he was pronounced dead at 23:15.
Shortly after the discovery of Mr Parson’s body, 50-year-old Peter Hayday from Brading, who had known Boo for around 15 years, was arrested on suspicion of murder, a charge that was later dropped. He was arrested at his house in Station Road, Brading (pictured right), where officers found his car – a Renault Megane – to still be warm.
A household’s CCTV captured the moment Mr Parson’s body was pulled from a car belonging to Peter Hayday, footage which was seized as evidence. The family were today shown the footage.
It was detailed at today’s inquest that Mr Parsons had been involved with drink and drugs for a number of years and had previously been sectioned under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act. It was said he consumed up to 46 units of alcohol a day at one point.
A post mortem, carried out by Dr Basil Purdue at St Mary’s Hospital, found that Mr Parsons had a blood alcohol reading almost 3 times the drink-drive limit. The cause of death was determined to be mixed drug intoxication.
On the night of his death Mr Parsons had asked his mother, Nola Norris, to collect him from Coronation Gardens in Shanklin to return to her address at Arnold’s Barn, Brading. During the car journey Mr Parsons made comments about ending his life, which his mum did not take seriously.
Miss Norris described to the inquest how her son said he was ‘down and out and no where to go’ and that he was acting aggressively during the car journey, in which time Boo phoned Peter Hayday requesting drugs.
Just 3 days before his death Mr Parsons had been told to leave the Real World Trust’s Butler Gardens hostel in Shanklin by manager, Donna Lynch, after breaking house rules by consuming alcohol despite previously trying to resolve his drinking problems. Mr Parsons had been receiving help from the Island Alcohol and Drug Service (now IRIS) for a number of years.
Later that evening, at 22:20, Miss Norris drove a ‘much-happier’ Mr Parsons to Sandown Bay Holiday Centre chalets, where he soon after scored drugs. That was the last time she saw her son alive.
Through a video link to HMP Portland in Dorset, Peter Hayday gave evidence at today’s inquest explaining that he discovered Chrisopher Parson’s body in the back of his car at Sandown Bay Holiday Centre chalets after returning from Yaverland Beach where he was taking drugs. In a panic, Hayday went to tell 3 drug dealers located in a nearby chalet of the discovery, who encouraged him to take Mr Parsons away from the area.
Hayday says he attempted to give ‘the kiss of life’ after first notifying the drug dealers.
In November last year Hayday was sentenced to a total of 42 months in prison after treating Mr Parson’s body ‘like a lump of meat’, perverting the course of justice. He was also convicted of being concerned in the supply of heroin and methadone and having nearly £6000 in cash from the proceeds of crime.
Hayday, who lived at home with his 80-year-old mother, drove Boo’s body to North Street before pulling him out of the vehicle and dumping him on the street corner. Hayday said he left Boo’s body where it would be easily found, before driving around the block to ensure the discovery had been made.
Coroner for the Isle of Wight, Caroline Sumeray, today asked Hayday why he did not call for the Police or an ambulance when he discovered Boo’s body in his car. In response he said that he couldn’t because of the drug dealers – and drugs – inside the chalet.
Ms Sumeray questioned Hayday as to why he cared about the drug dealers more than himself. He said he didn’t want to be known as a gras.
Boo Parsons is said to have met with a man named ‘Jay’ at the chalets in Yaverland where he scored Heroin, although Police were unable to bring a charge against the individual due to insignificant evidence. No further action was taken.
Christopher’s mother has praised the work of Cranstoun Drug Services, The Salvation Army, Real World Trust, the NHS and Police saying “they did their best for him”. She has asked for Hayday’s Renault Megane, which is parked opposite her house, to be removed as it is a ‘daily reminder’.
In conclusion, Ms Sumeray, who said she was impressed by how quickly Police acted in this case, said:
“It takes a particular callus individual to think more about other drug dealing friends than telling the truth about what happen to Boo Parsons.
“Words fail me as to how to describe that conduct when you consider that Mr Parsons was a friend. He [Hayday] left him there and drove past to check he was being found by others.
The death has been recorded as drug and alcohol related.
