Daniel Smith Had Eight Drugs in System, December 11, 2007

The Bahama Journal; by TOSHEENA ROBINSON-BLAIR

The 20-year-old son of former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith died of a "lethal" combination of prescription and non-prescription drugs, a coroner’s inquest heard Monday.

The inquest into the death of Daniel Smith resumed with testimony from Dr. Govinda Raju, a consultant forensic pathologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The doctor told the court that a toxicology report showed that the deceased had a total of eight different drugs in his system at the time of his death on September 10, 2006.

Dr. Raju based his findings on two U.S. toxicology reports, which he said tested Smith’s blood and urine samples.

The court heard that the eight drugs found in Smith’s system included five prescription drugs, one over-the-counter drug and two drugs doctors would have used in their attempt to revive the young man after he was found unconscious on a bed in his mother’s hospital room.

Ms. Smith had just given birth three days prior to Daniel’s sister, Dannielynn.

According to Dr. Raju, Daniel Smith could have died between four to six hours after the lethal combination entered his system.

He further told the court that five of the drugs found in Smith’s system were depressants and three were stimulants.

Dr Raju explained that the most lethal combination included Zoloft, Methadone – which is used in the treatment of heroine addicts – and Lexapro.

However, Wayne Munroe, the attorney representing Howard K. Stern, Ms. Smith’s companion, said Daniel was known to have back pains and suffered from depression.

Mr. Munroe insisted that Dr. Raju could not say what drugs were prescribed to Smith, as he could only base his comment on police reports.

Mr. Munroe further noted that all of the drugs found in Smith’s system were either painkillers or ones used to treat the depression.

Also taking the witness stand Monday was Caroline Nairn, who stayed in the hospital room next to Ms. Smith and testified that she heard a lady’s voice "in a panic state crying, shouting, screaming, ‘Oh my baby boy.’"

Also testifying was Dr. Charles Diggis, a surgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Doctors Hospital, who gave testimony about standard code blue procedures.

Also taking the witness stand was Corporal Addie Findley. The policeman and his partner were the first two officers to arrive on the scene.

Calling the witnesses to the stand is Neil Braithwaite, senior counsel in the Attorney General’s Office. Darnell Dorsette is assisting him.

The inquest is expected to last up to Wednesday.
Mr. Braithwaite told the court that four witnesses are no longer in the jurisdiction.
Approximately, 19 more witnesses are expected to take the stand.