James Morrison discovered ex-partner dead when worried pal found note on front door following pair’s split, inquest told
JAMES Morrison found his partner dead when a worried pal saw a note on the front door following their split, an inquest heard.
Gill Catchpole, 45, was discovered in the annex of the house she shared with the singer and their two daughters on January 5.
An inquest into Gill’s death today heard how the pair had split around a year before her death, which caused her mental health to decline.
A co-worker of Gill’s had called James when he went to pick her up and discovered a note on the front door of the home in Whitminster, Gloucestershire.
Tragically, the star discovered his former partner dead in the annex she was living in.
Gloucestershire area coroner Roland Wooderson ruled a verdict of suicide after hearing Gill had suffered with a number of health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Singer James did not attend the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court.
The hearing was told Gill, who ran a café called the Cotswold Sandwich Box, had been diagnosed with kidney disease and hypertension in 2008 .
She also suffered from postnatal depression in 2010 and 2018 after giving birth her two daughters, now aged 15 and five, with her youngest born 13 weeks premature.
In 2020, received treatment that involved a series of immunosuppressant medication, antidepressants and counselling for PTSD.
Last year, Gill had a kidney transplant, which triggered further anxiety and “negative thoughts of harming herself”, the court heard.
She had felt so low on two occasions that she called the Samaritans but assured her doctor her children and family would keep her causing harm to herself.
The mum also had a seizure last August that was caused by her anxiety and drinking too heavily.
On the day she died, police found remnants of a glass of vodka and Coke on a mantelpiece and a half-empty bottle of vodka on the kitchen table.
Officers also discovered a series of handwritten notes addressed to her family.
Police said previously they were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
A post mortem gave a provisional cause of death for the mum-of-two as ligature suspension.
Mr Wooderson told the inquest: “It is clear to me that at the relevant time, Gill was in a difficult place mentally.”
Gill’s death was the fourth tragedy to hit Brit Award-winning artist James following the deaths of his dad, brother and nephew.
The You Give Me Something singer met Gill when he was 17 after she moved into his mum’s home with her then-boyfriend.
James serenaded his future partner by singing songs from Stevie Wonder’s album Key Of Life.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
They eventually got together, with the couple later going on to have their children together.
Speaking to The Sun in 2019, James revealed his album You’re Stronger Than You Know was inspired by Gill after their youngest daughter was born 13 weeks premature.
He said: “Thankfully I can look back and everything is sweet and rosy now.”
James added: “But when Gill’s waters broke and she was born so early and tiny, we didn’t know what was going to happen.
“That is probably the lowest I’ve ever been.
“That’s why now, looking back, I called the album You’re Stronger Than You Know, as Gill was amazing.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
