Girl, 3, killed by methadone overdose after junkie mother gives her drug 'to
make her sleep'
A three-year-old girl died from a methadone overdose her junkie mother may have
given her to make her sleep, an inquest heard.
The shocking details were revealed at the double inquest into the deaths of
Donna Gill and her daughter Trae-Bleu Layne.
Coroner Peter Bedford said he was aware that hardened drug users had used it to
sedate their children in the past.
However, he said he could not be certain how Trae-Bleu ingested the fatal drugs.
During the hearing into the tot's death, Mr Bedford, coroner for Berkshire,
criticised child protection officers for not doing enough to safeguard the
toddler.
He was told that out of 84 attempted visits to see Donna Gill, 40, and her
daughter, less than a third - just 25 - were successful.
The inquest yesterday heard how the little girl died of methadone poisoning on
October 30, 2006.
Methadone can save lives, but it has fatal properties
Detective Sergeant Nicholas Burleigh, from Thames Valley Police, gave evidence
that experienced drug users had in the past given methadone to their children to
help them sleep.
Mr Bedford said: "It seems to me Donna may have misjudged the amount which has
led to her daughter's death."
He recorded a narrative verdict saying he was unable to conclude on the balance
of probability how the toddler had come in contact with the heroin substitute.
The coroner said he was convinced the troubled mother did not intend to end her
daughter's life.
However, he said Trae-Bleu had been in Reading Borough Council's child
protection plan and its officers along with social services staff could have
done more to protect her.
He said the girl's needs should have been at the forefront and that Miss Gill,
of Rembrandt Way, Coley Park, Reading, Berkshire, had been able to manipulate
visiting workers.
Mr Bedford said: “My concern is that the frequency of opportunity for seeing
Trae-Bleu fell well below the required and acceptable level.”
Andrew Foster, head of targeting services children and social care at the
council, said: “We have engaged in a considerable amount of work to ensure in
the future this does not happen.”
At the same hearing, Mr Bedford also delivered his verdict into the death of
Miss Gill, who was found by lying on the floor of her bedroom with a needle in
her hand and a blackened spoon on the windowsill on May 20 last year, seven
months after her daughter's death.
Despite evidence from her GP Dr Geoffrey Williams as to how she had admitted
contemplating suicide after her daughter's death, the coroner said he believed
she had no plans to do so and did not want to die.
Toxicology reports confirmed Miss Gill had high levels of heroin and Prozac in
her system at the time of her death.
Mr Bedford said: “I feel an open verdict is an appropriate one given the
evidence put to me.”
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