Man who strangled partner during sex took own life

Luke Cannon unlawfully killed Georgia Brooke, an inquest on Wednesday found

A man who strangled his girlfriend during sex took his own life hours later, an inquest has heard.

Luke Cannon, 31, was found dead in woodland near Bradford Royal Infirmary the day after he was told by medics his partner Georgia Brooke, 26, had died.

Bradford Coroner’s Court heard the couple had taken the drug GHB before having sex at Mr Cannon’s house on 3 February 2022.

Mr Cannon called an ambulance after Ms Brooke lost consciousness, but she was confirmed dead five minutes after arriving at hospital.

The court heard text messages between the couple showed the choking was consensual.

Senior coroner Martin Fleming said Mr Cannon had intended to take his own life and recorded a verdict of suicide.

On Wednesday, the same coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for Ms Brooke.

Georgia Brooke's picture was taken into court on Wednesday by her mother, Samantha Beaumont, and her sister, Nadia Brooke

The inquest into the dancer's death had been told how the police had wanted to speak to Mr Cannon on suspicion of murder, but he fled the hospital through a fire door before they could do so.

In his conclusion at the inquest into Miss Brooke's death, Mr Fleming said that while there was "no evidence" Mr Cannon had tried to kill his girlfriend, he must have used "excessive" force on her neck for her to die.

He went on to describe the practice of sexual choking as "dangerous" and said it "all too often ends in fatal consequences".

At Mr Cannon's inquest on Thursday, Det Sgt Phil Hardwick, of West Yorkshire Police, said Mr Cannon had called an ambulance to his home on Woodhall Avenue, Bradford, at about 23:25 GMT.

Miss Brooke had taken GHB, which he called "G", and they went on to have sex, he told paramedics.

She was taken to hospital in an ambulance and he followed on in a second vehicle, arriving at about 00:25.

Det Sgt Hardwick said Mr Cannon was "extremely remorseful and beside himself" and appeared on CCTV footage "crying, pacing around and in a generally distressed state".

Minutes later he was told his girlfriend had passed away, the inquest heard.

After trying unsuccessfully to contact Miss Brooke's mother, he left the hospital at about 00:45 and headed towards a wooded area off Duckworth Lane.

His body was found by a member of the public at about 09:25 the following morning, Det Sgt Hardwick said.

A post-mortem examination found traces of GHB, cocaine and Viagra in his blood, the hearing heard.

The inquest heard staff at the hospital had already contacted police as they had concerns about the nature of Miss Brooke's death.

The inquest was held at Bradford Coroner's Court on Thursday

Mr Cannon’s parents, Jane and Mikhail, told the hearing their son – who grew up in Hebden Bridge – had worked as a model and TV extra in between jobs as a personal trainer and labourer.

Mrs Cannon said he was a “wonderful man who lit up the room”.

She said he would always do his best to help others and cheer them up, and thought he had found his soulmate in Miss Brooke.

She said he liked to lead a healthy lifestyle, with interests including hiking, going to the gym, cycling and spending quiet evenings with his family.

However the inquest heard evidence from his GP and drug and alcohol service Recovery Steps Calderdale, that he had a history of using steroids and cocaine.

It also heard how Mr Cannon had called Miss Brooke “Chloe” instead of Georgia, after accidentally calling her the wrong name when drunk and it stuck.

At Miss Brooke's inquest, her mother Samantha Beaumont said she believed this was a way of controlling her in the relationship.

But Mrs Cannon said her son always spoke fondly of Miss Brooke, saying they had a balanced relationship and she saw no evidence of coercion.

The coroner offered his "sincere condolences" to Mrs Cannon, and said he hoped one day the families would be able to dwell on the happy memories of their children.

"It will take some time, but I do hope that day will come," he said.

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