JEREMY Kyle could be blamed for the death of a guest who died from an overdose in a suspected suicide, a coroner said today.
Steve Dymond, 63, had appeared on the show to convince his fiancée Jane Callaghan that he hadn't been unfaithful but failed a lie detector test.
Ten days later, the construction worker was found dead at his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg today told a pre-inquest review he will make Kyle an "interested person" under coroner's rules.
He explained this meant the host "may have caused or contributed to the death of Steve Dymond".
The coroner will also have to decide whether his death had been a breach of Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which protects everyone's right to life.
'HUMAN BEAR BAITING'
ITV axed the Jeremy Kyle Show in the wake of Steven's death in May last year.
His heartbroken family today slammed the show as "human bear baiting" and claimed Kyle "pounced" on Steve.
Steve's brother Lesley told how he had spoken to him during an "intense period" four times a day after the show.
He said: "He had endured a terrible time. He sounded completely broken and frightened and he told me he could not go on living."
The family's lawyer said Steve told his brother he was "jeered and called a failure" by Kyle and booed by the audience.
He added: "He had been on the point of collapsing at the studio but he was still heckled.
"He was on his hands and knees as he thought he was going to pass out from fear and distress."
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
The hearing was also told a doctor had assessed Steve as being "unfit" to appear on the ITV show in the weeks before he was a guest.
He was later given a note by the same doctor then allowing him to appear, it was said.
A previous hearing heard how Steve's cause of death was a morphine overdose and left ventricular hypertrophy, which is when the left chamber of the heart is not pumping properly.
Detective Sergeant Marcus Mills, of Hampshire Police, said before the death was a suspected suicide.
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO, announced at the time: “Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show.
“The Jeremy Kyle Show has had a loyal audience and has been made by a dedicated production team for 14 years, but now is the right time for the show to end.
“Everyone at ITV's thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond."
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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