Women who turned down hospital treatment leapt to her death

Jan 14 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE brother of a woman who died after jumping from a Newcastle road bridge has said health authorities should have been allowed to detain her for treatment.

Nigjare Xhaka, 37, of Chesters Avenue, Longbenton, Newcastle, fell more than 20ft from the Cradlewell flyover, in Heaton, on to the A1058 Coast Road last July. The driver of an RAC van on the Coast Road tried to brake and swerve, but was unable to avoid her, an inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre was told.

She died instantly from multiple injuries including a broken spine, damaged liver and spleen and leg injuries.

Ms Xhaka, a Kosovan who moved to England in 1991, had a history of mental illness including paranoia, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

She had been treated by the NHS, but refused to take medication which could have helped her. She also refused to stay in hospital for treatment.

The police had contact with her several times in the days before she died.

She was found wandering the streets in Newcastle city centre and on two occasions passers-by had reported her acting strangely in Monument Metro Station. Each time she had been dealt with by Northumbria Police. The force was ordered by the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate its own handling of Ms Xhaka’s case before her death, but it was found to have acted appropriately.

Coroner David Mitford attached no blame to the authorities over her death.

He said: “It is impossible to understand the state of mind of Ms Xhaka in the days before her death. She was less than willing to engage with mental health authorities and there was little they could have done.”

Witnesses reported seeing Ms Xhaka put her possessions on the kerbside before climbing over a fence on the bridge. PC Michael Atkinson, of Northumbria Police, told the inquest the driver of the van had acted quickly and done everything possible to avoid the crash.

He said: “It is hard to see what more he could have done. There was evidence of the brakes having been slammed on. He would have had very little warning.

“It has been very traumatic for the driver after what has happened.”

Her brother Gazmend Xhaka, 39, also of Longbenton, said after the inquest he did not blame the authorities for his sister’s death but wished she could have been detained in hospital. “I feel that maybe the authorities should have been allowed to keep her in hospital for treatment.

“I still feel sad about what happened and wish I could have done something.

“I don’t know what caused her mental problems.

“We were in England when the war started. Some of our family were caught up in the fighting and we lost contact with them for some time.”

Verdict: Suicide.