James Morrison’s ex left heartbreaking note on door before she was found dead

An inquest into the death of James Morrison ‘s estranged wife was held at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Thursday, almost six months on from her tragic death.

The You Give Me Something singer, 39, sadly lost his wife Gill Catchpole, 45, at the start of this year when he found the mum-of-two dead inside their family home in Gloucestershire on Friday 5th January.

James was left devastated at the start of this year after discovering his former partner dead, following a concerned friend spotting a note on the front door in the wake of their break-up, an inquest heard on Thursday.

Gill, 45, was found dead by James at her home in Whitminster, Gloucestershire, on 5th January. Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court heard a friend had gone to Gill’s home and found a handwritten note on A4 paper attached to the front door saying, “Don’t come in, call the police”.

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The concerned friend had gone to the adjacent property where the musician lived and the Brit Award-winning singer had used keys to access the property and found his former partner’s body. Police and paramedics were called out, and Gill was pronounced dead at 9.37am.

Detective Sergeant David Kania, who investigated the sudden death, ruled out any third-party involvement. “A friend of the deceased had attended when they saw a sheet of A4 sheet of paper with the words written, ‘Don’t come in, call the police’,” the officer said in a statement.

“The friend went to the house and raised the ex-partner, who located a set of keys to the annexe house where upon they entered and found the deceased. Upon entering the living room, I saw a series of handwritten notes on the lounge table which were addressed to the deceased’s ex-partner, family and friends.

“There were no signs of a disturbance or third-party involvement. It has been relayed to me that close friends and family had indicated that Gill had been suffering with her mental health for the last year or so and since the split from her ex-partner. It is likely that this had a further negative detrimental impact on her mental health which culminated in her taking actions which led to her untimely death.”

Toxicology tests found an alcohol level of 190mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal drink drive limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood. The inquest heard the toxicologist was unable to determine “whether or not or the degree” to which the use of alcohol had impacted upon Gill’s state of mind at the time of her death.

The court was told Gill had suffered from kidney disease since 2008 and later underwent a kidney transplant. In a written statement, GP Dr Emma Basker said Gill had also suffered from “reoccurring mental ill-health”, including anxiety and PTSD, and had received medication, counselling and psychological therapy.

Gloucestershire area coroner Roland Wooderson recorded a conclusion of suicide. “It is quite clear to me that, sadly, at the relevant time Gill was in a difficult place mentally,” the coroner said. “It is entirely clear to me that the contents of those notes indicate that Gill unfortunately was in a very difficult place at the time of her death.

“Having reviewed the evidence I have, it seems to me sadly that the appropriate conclusion on the balance of probabilities I will record a conclusion of suicide.” Friends and family members of Gill, including her mother, father and step-father, who attended the hearing did not comment as they left. James was not present at the hearing on Thursday.

The inquest into Gill’s death heard that the mum-of-two was discovered by her husband James at their family home on a Friday, after a concerned friend who had struggled to gain access inside the property contacted the Brit Award winning singer.

Broken Strings hitmaker James – who cancelled all work commitments following his wife’s death – had a key to the house and was the one to discover his wife’s body on entering their home. James is still yet to publicly speak out regarding his wife’s untimely death. In January, it was reported that James had been left “devastated” by her passing but was trying to remain strong for the two children they shared together, daughters Elsie, 15, and Ada, five.

Just before she died inside her family home, Gill appeared to be looking for a new place to live. She posted on Facebook : “Looking for a house to rent in Whitminster ASAP. Please contact me if anyone knows or hears of anything. TIA.” A family friend said of Gill’s death: “Gill was found dead on Friday at the family’s home in Whitminster. James is devastated and is being supported by his family. He is holding it together for their girls but has asked for the family to be left alone to grieve in private.”

James often spoke about his relationship with Gill over the years and previously talked about how becoming a dad changed him, especially since his own father had just passed away before the birth of his first child. “Just before he died my first daughter, Elsie, was born. So in a way her birth helped me think more about life,” the I Won’t Let You Go singer told OK! magazine.

“I then tried to focus on my music in a bid to pull me out of it. I began to write new songs, most of them were quite personal, which talked about my dad – so that was cathartic. Becoming a father changed the way I looked at life. Because I knew I needed to be there for my daughter. That helped me out of the dark times.”

In an interview with the White Wine Question Time podcast, James recalled the unique way his romance with Gill began, revealing: “It wasn’t the easiest start, but I just still see it as a really romantic thing. I’m not very romantic. I’m not like: ‘I love romance!’ But I do find certain things romantic and the fact that we met each other the way we did. It’s like a little fairy tale or something!”

He met Gill thanks to the late mum-of-two lodging at his mum’s house – with her then-partner. James recalled: “We just had a connection straight away really. But I had to wait two years to find out if what I thought I felt was real. Because I wasn’t going out with her for the first year or so she lived there. She was with her boyfriend, so I was getting to know her. And I didn’t want to tell her that I fell in love with her the first moment I set eyes on her because I didn’t know, I never fell in love before. So I didn’t really know if it was that. So it was like a massive moment for me to even tell her that I liked her.”

After Gill split from her boyfriend who also lived at James’ mum’s house as a lodger, they started their romantic journey three months later. Despite this, Gill’s ex managed to re-enter James’ life by starting a relationship with his mum. Recounting the surprising moment, James shared: “He got me back. My mum rang me one day. And she said: ‘I’m out on a date. I wonder if you can pick me up?’

“I said: ‘Where are you?’ And she said: ‘I’m at John’s house.’ And I was like: ‘John’s house? Who’s John? ‘She said: ‘You know, Gill’s John’. Okay, so I have to go and pick my mum up from my girlfriend’s ex’s house, and it was the most awkward thing! But I didn’t like the fact that she said that. So I was like: ‘No it’s not a date. They’re just hanging out.’ Yeah, it was awkward!”

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact:
Samaritans helpline 116 123
Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48
Pieta House on 1800 247 247

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