The daughter of the deputy speaker of the House of Commons who hanged herself in her bedroom had been in a ‘toxic relationship’ an inquest heard today.
Natalie Lewis-Hoyle was attacked a month before she was found dead at her home in Heybridge, Essex in December last year.
The hearing was told she had received a phone call the night before that her father, deputy speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, believed could have affected her state of mind.
The identity of the caller was not disclosed at the hearing in Chelmsford, Essex.
However the young women had made plans with her family for the whole year ahead and had never indicated she planned to take her own life.
Lindsay Hoyle, the daughter of the deputy speaker of the House of Commons, had been in a ‘toxic relationship’
Her tearful parents including father Sir Hoyle, a Labour MP attended the inquest and described her as “full of life, kind and generous.’
Her mother Miriam Lewis, Sir Hoyle’s ex partner, said her daughter had been in ‘psychological torment’ although she had been planning her future and looking forward to Christmas.
The inquest heard Miss Lewis-Hoyle, a parish councillor, was struggling with a relationship that was ending and an assault had been reported to cops a month before her death – although no-one was arrested.
She had been out in London and had been drinking before her loving mother Miriam Lewis tragically discovered her dead on the morning of December 15, 2017.
The inquest heard Miss Lewis-Hoyle, (pictured) a parish councillor, was struggling with a relationship
(L-R) Commons Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, with wife Catherine Swindley and ex wife (and mother of Natalie) Miriam Lewis leaving Coroners court in Chelmsford Essex today
Mrs Lewis, who sits on Maldon District Council, had picked up her daughter from the station and driven her to their shared home in Heybridge, Essex.
A toxicology report revealed she was more twice the drink drive limit at the time of death.
The Tory councillor called the ambulance service after finding her daughter.
She said: ‘It’s my firm conviction there was an assault which was as the relationship was really deteriorating.
Commons Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle leaving Coroners court in Chelmsford, Essex today
‘It was a very toxic relationship.’
She added: ‘I know that is the conclusion the police have had to draw and there’s a lack of evidence.
‘When someone is in psychological torment you don’t get the bruises and fat lips and black eyes.
‘Other than the conversations with that person there was nothing between her and her death other than the conversations with that person.
Miriam Lewis (right) ex wife of Commons Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle at Coroners court in Chelmsford, Essex today after hearing inquest into the death of daughter
‘I accept that within the law as it stands at the moment there is no third-party involvement, it is not something I’m going to be able to put out of my head.’
Her father Sir Lindsay, a Labour MP, also disputed the police’s conclusion that there was no third-party involvement.
He said: ‘Obviously no one can judge what was in that phone call, we know there was a reaction to that phone call, that something happened following that.
‘I don’t know where that takes us with third party involvement.
‘We know there was third party involvement with that phone call that left them in a different state of mind.’
Detective Inspector Gary Biddle however told the inquest: ‘There’s no suspicious circumstances as far as Essex Police are involved.’
After the parents paid tribute to their ‘pocket rocket’ daughter who ‘lit up the room’ senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict.
She said: ‘I’m going to record an open conclusion, we don’t have all the bits of the jigsaw.
‘We’ll never quite know what was going through her mind.
‘She clearly was much loved.
‘I hope you will be able to think back on all the happy positive memories.’
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