Francesca Purssell, a four-month-old baby, met an untimely demise last year under distressing circumstances involving her mother’s admission of cocaine use and alcohol consumption, as disclosed in an inquest.
The inquest, presided over by Senior Coroner Louise Hunt , returned an open verdict, unable to definitively establish the cause of the infant’s death.
Lesley Purssell, the mother, who was not charged with any offense, admitted to consuming cocaine and alcohol on the evening of while socializing with friends. Her guests departed, after which she retired to bed.
According to Ms. Purssell’s account to the police, she awoke at approximately 04:00 to feed Francesca, subsequently falling asleep with the infant on her chest, potentially influenced by the earlier drug and alcohol consumption.
The following morning, Ms. Purssell’s new partner, discovering Francesca unresponsive in the bed, immediately sought medical assistance. However, an error in the ambulance service resulted in a delay of 25 minutes before paramedics reached the residence.
Despite forensic officers finding the home conditions to be messy but not neglectful, a multi-agency investigation led to Ms. Purssell’s arrest on suspicion of child neglect. She provided a blood sample, admitting to consuming orange gin and lemonade, and later,confessed to also taking cocaine on the night of Francesca’s death.
Detective Inspector James Edmonds from West Midlands Police indicated that the case was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, but insufficient evidence precluded charging Ms. Purssell.
During the inquest, Dr. Roger Malcomson, a consultant paediatric and prenatal pathologist, highlighted the known risks associated with intoxication and an unsafe sleeping environment in sudden child deaths. However, Senior Coroner Louise Hunt emphasized the inconclusive nature of the post-mortem examination, recording an open verdict and acknowledging that other potential causes could not be ruled out.
The tragic incident raises questions about the role of substance use and its potential impact on child welfare, as authorities grapple with the challenges in establishing a conclusive determination of the circumstances surrounding Francesca Purssell’s untimely death.
