NSW: Goth culture not to blame for double suicide, inquest finds

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2006
NSW: Goth culture not to blame for double suicide, inquest finds

A Sydney inquest has found the suicides of a man and his teenage girlfriend were not
part of a demonic cult ritual .. but arose from every day problems.

A 23-year-old man from the NSW south coast and his 15-year-old girlfriend were found
hanging in a granny flat at the man's parents' home in October 2004.

Satanic markings had been scratched into their bodies .. and messages were scrawled
on them in texta.

But Deputy State Coroner DORELLE PINCH says while they were familiar with a goth culture
.. their suicides couldn't be attributed to it.

Coroner PINCH has told the Glebe Coroner's Court .. evidence suggests the pair .. who
cannot be named .. were simply ordinary young people confronted with every day problems.

The girl had been reported missing about three weeks before her death after running
away from home.

The Coroner has made formal recommendations to police .. DOCS and education ministers
to improve the reporting of missing young people.

AAP RTV acb/tr/hn/es/bart

KEYWORD: PACT (SYDNEY)

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