Michael Hutchence ‘wanted to leave Paula Yates but she couldn’t handle it’ claims his sister

Michael Hutchence’s half-sister Tina has claimed the rocker planned to leave girlfriend Paula Yates before he committed suicide. 

The Australian singer was found dead in his hotel room in 1997 with a coroner ruling the death as suicide, despite Paula disputing that he would have taken his own life.

Yet Tina has now claimed that Paula’s denial was a result of being unable to cope with the fact that Michael wanted to leave her.    

Former flames: Michael Hutchence’s half-sister Tina has claimed the rocker planned to leave girlfriend Paula Yates before he committed suicide

Heartbroken Paula died three years later of an accidental heroin overdose when she was 41, with their daughter Tiger-Lily finding her body.

Speaking to Australian magazine New Idea, Tina said: ‘She could not face the fact that she wasn’t enough for him. 

‘He didn’t want to live for her. She just couldn’t handle it that he’d leave her.’

Speaking out: Tina said 'She could not face the fact that she wasn't enough for him. 'He didn't want to live for her. She just couldn't handle it that he'd leave her'

Speaking out: Tina said ‘She could not face the fact that she wasn’t enough for him. ‘He didn’t want to live for her. She just couldn’t handle it that he’d leave her’

Tina’s comments echo that of Michael’s former INXS bandmate Kirk Pengilly, who previously claimed the singer was planning to leave Paula before his suicide.

He told Australian TV show Sunday Night: ‘Just prior to his death, that week or so – what he told me, he had a plan in place to basically split up with Paula.’

Tina claimed last month that Michael began his downward descent after being ‘vilified’ for appearing to break-up Paula’s marriage to Sir Bob Geldof.

‘It was shocking, that’s when he really started to fall apart’, Tina said on The Project, agreeing with interviewer Lisa Wilkinson’s assertion that Bob was seen a ‘saint in everyone’s eyes’ after the marriage split. 

TV presenter Paula first began dating Boomtown Rats rocker Bob in 1976. They married in 1986, before Paula left Bob in 1995 – a move which generated a tabloid storm.

The following year she gave birth to Michael’s only child, daughter Tiger Lily, now 22, whose full name is Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof. 

Vilified: Tina claimed last month that Michael began his downward descent after being 'vilified' for appearing to break-up Paula's marriage to Sir Bob Geldof 

Vilified: Tina claimed last month that Michael began his downward descent after being ‘vilified’ for appearing to break-up Paula’s marriage to Sir Bob Geldof 

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