An alcoholic who fell from her fourth floor flat a

An alcoholic who fell from her fourth floor flat after a heavy drinking session.

Mary Deliss, 46, was found on a low roof to the rear of her west London home after she fell from a ledge four storeys above.

A neighbour heard a loud bang and scream during the night – but her semi naked body was not discovered until the following morning.

Mrs Deliss suffered from depression, but no suicide note was found.

George Deliss told Westminster Coroner’s Court he was unaware his wife had fallen to her death while he was sleeping.

He had heard her return to their home at (12) Brompton Lodge, Cromwell Road, South Kensington.

He said it was likely she had been drinking, but when things went quiet, he assumed she had gone out again.

But later that night Mr Deliss said he did not see his wife, who slept in a separate bedroom.

It was only the next morning, March 30 this year, that her body was discovered.

Cynthia Hoahing, who lives in Thurloe Place Mews, said in a statement read to the court:

‘I remember lying in the bath at around quarter past midnight, having a soak, and I heard a terrible noise.

‘It was awful.

There was a scream, and an extremely loud bang.

Then there was silence,’ she said.

PC Paul Moran said in a statement that Mrs Deliss fell 20-30 feet on to a flat roof.

‘I saw a semi-naked female’s head and shoulders hanging over a roof.

‘She had a multi-coloured dressing gown on her shoulders.

‘

Pol sgt Simon Fowler told the court Mrs Deliss must have clambered out of her bedroom window and 20 to 30 feet along a ledge by a roof terrace before she fell.

A report from Mrs Deliss’ GP revealed how she first became depressed and turned to drink after the birth of her son in 1987.

She had suffered broken bones after falling down the stairs while drunk and was agoraphobic.

Mrs Deliss was battling her alcoholism in counselling sessions but a pathologist’s report revealed she was four times over the drink drive limit.

Death had been caused by head injuries and a rupture to a blood vessel in the heart.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: ‘The circumstances leave some doubt as to her capability to form an intent to kill herself.

‘

Verdict: Open.

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