A CORONER has issued a warrant for the arrest of a key witness, due to his failure to turn up for an inquest into the death of a drug user.
Dr Nicholas Rheinberg adjourned the inquest into the death of unemployed Vernon Gordon Orger, 54, of Boughton, Chester, due to the absence of his friend David Clarkson and the need for further medical evidence.
Mr Orger, who had Type 1 diabetes, Hepatitis C and had lost an eye to cancer, died at his home in Tarvin Road on June 6 this year.
He was found by Mr Clarkson who told police at the scene that he was Mr Orger’s flatmate.
Mr Clarkson woke on the sofa at 2am and shared a cigarette with Mr Orger, who had been sleeping on a chair. When Mr Clarkson woke up at 11.20am he discovered Mr Orger was not moving and called an ambulance. Paramedics pronounced Mr Orger dead at the scene.
Detective Constable Tom Silsbury had made several attempts to speak to Mr Clarkson, who failed to turn up for a series of appointments. He said the evidence into Mr Orger’s death had not raised suspicions.
Dr William Kenyon, consultant at the Countess of Chester Hospital, carried out the post-mortem examination and found traces of cocaine in Mr Orger’s blood. He said it was possible the level of morphine also found in Mr Orger’s blood had caused his death, although he could not be certain.
According to a statement by his son Karl Orger, read out at in the inquest at Chester Magistrates Court, Mr Orger had been taking drugs since his 20s.
