An inquest has concluded that an East Cowes man, who was at the centre of a high-profile fatal road traffic collision 20 years earlier, took his own life.
45-year-old Andrew Hodnitt was found dead at 19:30 on 16th January 2022 at his home address on Osborne Road.
His sudden death prompted an investigation to be launched, which has now concluded some 3-and-a-half years later with a Section 9C inquest taking place last Thursday (26th June).
Mr Hodnitt, who was originally from Birmingham, had a tragic history. In August 2000, he was seriously injured in a motorbike crash on the Isle of Wight that claimed the life of his passenger.
Police officers found a motorbike jammed between a telegraph pole and bushes shortly after 04:50 in the morning. Mr Hodnitt was still partially astride the bike while his pillion passenger lay nearby, unconscious. He later died.
The then 21-year-old was convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst exceeding the alcohol limit and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. However, the conviction was later ruled unsafe and overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Senior Coroner for the Isle of Wight, Caroline Sumeray, has recorded a conclusion that Andrew Hodnitt died by hanging, ruling his death a suicide.
Why would this investigation take three and a half years to reach a conclusion?