Misadventure verdict after popular schoolgirl's death

4:04pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

A "dramatic" schoolgirl hanged herself with her dressing gown cord on the spur of moment after a minor sisterly row, an inquest has heard.

Popular Graveney pupil Tallulah Brown, 13, died on May 7 in St George's Hospital, Tooting, two days after suspending herself from her wardrobe.

The inquest heard the teen had died because the blood supply to her brain had been cut off.

Tallulah, who lived with her two sisters and mum in Pendle Road, Streatham, was described as a "bright, witty, affectionate" child with an extrovert personality, and was doing very well in her studies.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard that she had stormed upstairs during dinner on May 5, after what coroner Dr Paul Knapman described as "clearly sisters having a minor row".

"One can well imagine the scene - sisters annoying each other. It happens every day. I would have thought it happens in every household," he added.

Her sister, Dulcie, went up to speak to her and found the door wide open, before seeing Tallulah with the cord around her neck.

In a statement, Dulcie said she "thought she was joking and making fun of herself for being so overdramatic" before realising the seriousness of the situation.

The emergency services were called, and police later found diaries in her room.

Dr Knapman referred to two particular undated jottings which said: "I haven't self-harmed in 13 days" and "I'm on the toilet right now and I'm wanting to slash my wrists."

He said these were not suicide notes, but that her jottings and actions were those of an "immature, upset and dramatic girl" who was "barely adolescent".

She had no history of psychiatric problems or drug-taking.

In order to record a verdict of suicide, Dr Knapman said a coroner has to establish beyond all the reasonable doubt that the person intended the consequence of their actions.

He said Tallulah's actions were spontaneous and did not fit with those of a person intending to commit suicide.

"A way of being dramatic is to go and do something to draw attention to yourself, and in doing so going into your bedroom and not thinking things through would be a manifestation of this," he said.

"There's a slight misunderstanding or row. She rushes off to her bedroom and there I think it's clear that on the spur of the moment this immature upset dramatic girl does this act."

Recording a verdict of misadventure, he passed on the sympathy of the court to her tearful family.

• To leave tributes for Tallulah click here.