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Max Mosley's son died at desk full of needles and syringes
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent10 Jun 2009
The son of Formula 1 boss Max Mosley was found dead at a desk littered with crack pipes, syringes and needles, an inquest heard today.
Alexander Mosley, 39, was dressed only in boxer shorts. His body was found by his cleaner slumped in a chair in front of his computer in his Notting Hill home last month.
An inquest was told how he would disappear for days during years of heroin and crack cocaine binges.
He also suffered from depression and despite making great efforts to give up hard drugs returned to his old ways shortly before his death.
Tests later revealed he had taken a vast amount of cocaine and also ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and heroin or morphine.
Yet he was unlikely to have knowingly taken a suicidal overdose because he had left a shopping list and a reminder to get his hair cut, the hearing was told.
Mr Mosley, who ran the successful Hereford Road restaurant near his home, had been a keen skier and surfer. He had been "in a very enthusiastic mood" days before his death when he had lunch with his father.
His friend and personal assistant Ramona Rainy told Westminster coroners' court that Mr Mosley had been using heroin and crack cocaine "for many years and would often go missing for days at a time".
In a statement she added: "I was aware he had given up hard drugs for some time but had started to dabble again."
She said that she knew he had also been seeing a doctor who was treating him for depression.
Samara Fodoti, who found the body, said she had believed Mr Mosley was out but discovered him while cleaning his office on the third floor.
She said: "I saw him at his desk. It was obvious he was dead. I screamed his name, I didn't know what to do." She said there was blood around his mouth and what appeared to be drugs and drug paraphernalia on his desk.
A post-mortem examination revealed no definite cause of death but uncovered puncture-type wounds around Mr Mosley's elbows and groin.
Westminster coroner Dr Paul Knapman recorded a verdict that he had died of non-dependent drug abuse in the form of cocaine intoxication.
He said: "This is a tragedy for a man who, in so many respects, had so much potential.
Unfortunately his propensity to return to taking drugs has caused his death at the age of only 39."
None of Mr Mosley's relatives attended today's hearing.
Reader views (4)
What a waste! So young. Rest in peace.
Alcohol isn't a drug it's a drink. Alcohol and tobacco are by far the biggest killers in the UK.
- Bob, Uxbridge, 11/06/2009 04:55
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HOW TRAGIC. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL AND UNABLE TO BE STANDARDISED TO GUARANTEE A KNOWN POTENCY. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE THE CASE AS LONG AS ILLICIT DRUG USE IS SEEN AS A LEGAL ISSUE, RATHER THAN AS A SOCIAL/HEALTH PROBLEM. WHY PUNISH JUNKIES WHEN THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF IT THEMSELVES!
- Dariusz Chomik, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 11/06/2009 04:14
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Wise words, Mick, London.
- George, Guildford, 10/06/2009 17:53
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May he now rest in Peace.
Let this be a lesson to all who mess with drugs it could, and will happen to you.
- Mick, london, 10/06/2009 17:01
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