Wrotham: Peaches Husband 'Not Suspected Of Involvement In Her Death'

3 May 2014, 06:12 | Updated: 3 May 2014, 06:13

The husband of Peaches Geldof "is not in any way under suspicion of any involvement" in her death, police have said.

Kent Police said musician Thomas Cohen has not been arrested or interviewed under caution and "there is no plan to do so".

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham said he was making the position clear following recent speculation in the media.

The detective also disclosed that drugs paraphernalia was seized from the property on the day she was discovered.

It comes after Kent Police announced an "ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs'' in connection with the 25-year-old's death.

She was found by her husband Thomas Cohen with one leg hanging down to the floor and the other tucked underneath her in a spare bedroom in Wrotham on April 7.

At the opening of her inquest in Gravesend on Thursday, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, of Kent Police, said recent heroin use "was likely to have played a role'' in her death.

Ms Geldof's death marks a parallel to the death of her mother, TV presenter and writer Paula Yates, who died from an accidental heroin overdose at her London home aged 41 in 2000.

At the inquest, Mr Fotheringham described the unsuccessful efforts musician Mr Cohen made to contact his wife before he found her body.

Four days before she was discovered, Mr Cohen went with the couple's two sons, Astala, 23 months, and 11-month-old Phaedra, to his parents' south-east London home.

Mr Fotheringham said this was a normal arrangement so that he and TV presenter and columnist Ms Geldof could concentrate on their work.

During their time apart, Ms Geldof remained at home in Wrotham and in contact with friends and family, appearing to be her normal self.

Mr Fotheringham said:"On Thursday April 3, 2014, Thomas Cohen went with his two sons to stay for the weekend at his parents' house in south-east London.

"This is a normal occurrence which enables Peaches and Thomas to complete work in their respective careers.''

He added: "It is believed that Peaches spent Saturday afternoon (April 5), into the evening, and Sunday morning at her home address alone.

"Throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with family and friends, including contact with Thomas's mother to arrange a family activity, but this was cancelled.

"Peaches maintained contact with family and friends throughout Sunday and at 5pm Thomas's father Keith Cohen took the youngest child, Phaedra, back to Wrotham and spent half an hour with Peaches before leaving the child with her.''

Mr Fotheringham said the last contact with Ms Geldof is believed to have been at 7.45pm on the Sunday when she had a telephone conversation with a friend.

He went on: "All of the friends and family who had contact with Peaches during this period described how she seemed her normal self and was making plans for the future, including a family outing for her sons for the following weekend.

"There was no cause for concern.''

Mr Cohen tried to contact his wife the following morning without success, Mr Fotheringham added.

He then travelled to the family home in Kent with his mother, Sue, and Astala, arriving at around 1.30pm.

"Thomas entered the property and located Peaches in the spare bedroom,'' Mr Fotheringham said. It was apparent that she was dead.

"She was located on the edge of the bed with one leg hanging down to the floor and the other leg tucked underneath her. She was slumped across the bed,'' Mr Fotheringham said.

Mr Cohen called out to his mother and Phaedra was found in the property, and the emergency services were called.

Police and paramedics arrived and confirmed she was dead. Kent Police started an investigation but the death was "unexplained with no third party'' involvement.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Peter Jerreat at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford was inconclusive.

Further tests confirmed the recent taking of heroin, Mr Fotheringham said. He said: "Recent use of heroin and the levels identified were likely to have played a role in her death.''

Mr Hatch adjourned the inquest for a full hearing to take place on July 23.

None of Ms Geldof's family, including her father Bob, were at the hearing, which lasted around 10 minutes.

Former Boomtown Rats singer Mr Geldof has previously paid tribute to his daughter alongside his partner, Jeanne Marine, and Ms Geldof's sisters, Fifi Trixibelle, Pixie and Tiger, saying she was the ``wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us''.