Has the 1997 death of INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence – which was first viewed as an intentional suicide – been re-classified as an unintentional auto-erotic asphyxiation?
I’ve heard many rumours, but no official declarations.
Does anyone know for sure?
It will never never be known for sure. From a Parliamentary web site:
“This suppression power was included in the Coroners Act 1980 partly because of the media’s interest in suicide, especially of famous people. Recent examples have occurred upon the deaths of singer Michael Hutchence and footballer Peter Jackson. Tabloid newspapers make a meal of those occurrences, and that is very painful for relatives. Media speculation on whether a death was suicide causes unnecessary pain and distress to relatives and friends, and indeed to fans, if the deceased was a public figure. At present, the coroner’s power to issue a suppression order is limited to the time of commencement of the inquest. This bill will extend that power to the time when the coroner is notified of the death, or suspected death, and the suppression order will remain in place until the coroner’s findings are handed down or when a coronial jury reaches its verdict.”
What does suppression of the media have to do with it? That ends when the inquest is over.
I thought he had left a suicide note…or am I thinking of someone else? I was never a big fan of InXS, and so I didn’t pay too much attention to the details when he died…