'We will never know the truth', Charlie Millers' mum fears
In late 2020, Charlie Millers stood with his family as he burned a suicide note he'd written earlier that year. He'd written it while going through an all-too-familiar struggle. His mental health battle was constant and gruelling.
As he went into hospital for mental health treatment, he spoke to staff of his excitement for Christmas. The 17-year-old from Stretford, who was transgender, looked forward to swapping gifts with his loved ones and spending time with the people he cared about most. Those answers, Charlie's mother Samantha fears, may never come. "We will never know the truth," she said as she came to terms with what happened in court.
In an emotional video at the start of the inquest hearing, Samantha addressed her child. "I watched you grow and I knew something was different," jurors heard her say. There was serious self-harm; thoughts of wanting to die; and a voice Charlie named 'X', which told him to hurt his family or himself. The voice would threaten that 'bad things would happen to him or his family'.'There was always the risk we could find him not alive' Charlie endure years of trauma. He was 'bullied at school'; had 'acid thrown on him'; and was the victim of 'sexual abuse' over the course of five years.
"There was always the risk that we could find him not alive and his siblings were well aware of that as well," Samantha said. "They were worried what they'd find at home." Samantha supported Charlie as he started a damaging cycle in and out of hospital as his mental health spiralled. Charlie had become a regular patient at the mental health unit, Junction 17, at the former Prestwich Hospital site, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust .
"So, you cannot stop someone from self harming. Physically, you can restrain them for hours on end but still, if they get a chance they can start again." He was found unconscious by bank support worker Harry Osemwige after 10pm. CPR was started, before he was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital. Tragically, the brain injury was too grave and Charlie later died.
The court heard Junction 17 regularly struggled with staffing levels and that the mental health ward Charlie was staying on was 'visibly chaotic'. Documentation failed to be completed correctly the evening he was fatally injured. The Manchester Evening News understands the GMP investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence for authorities to seek a prosecution for manslaughter by gross negligence.
Ms Kearsley said that the quality of investigations into Charlie's death must have caused even more turmoil, as they only served to 'add questions'. 'We are deeply sorry' Dr Arasu Kuppuswamy, chief medical Officer at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This was a tragic case, and our thoughts remain with Charlie’s family. We fully accept the inquest's findings and jury's conclusion.
"We know there is more work to do and will implement the coroner’s recommendations and continue to work with partners to improve care. "The inquest heard there was insufficient evidence for them to do a thorough investigation. I believe they should look at it again.
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