Geldof cast as villain in death of INXS star

Michael Hutchence died by hanging, the Sydney coroner confirmed yesterday. But it may not have been suicide. Ian Burrell reports that the Australian authorities are still not certain that he killed himself.

As soon as she arrived in Sydney early yesterday, Paula Yates was driven to the morgue at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to view the body of her lover before it was taken for post-mortem examination.

During a 22-hour flight from London, a sedated and distraught Ms Yates had drunk champagne to drown her grief and walked up and down the aisle blaming the fall-out from her former marriage to Bob Geldof for Hutchence's death.

The dress she had bought for their planned wedding in January would now be dyed black for the funeral, she said. "Michael obviously flipped. He was worn down by three years of torture," she told reporters. "They call him St Bob but that's a joke. It makes me sick."

Weeping hysterically, she said Hutchence's last words to her were: "I love you. I'm going to phone Bob and beg him to allow the children to come over here with you."

The call to Mr Geldof's Chelsea flat came at around 6.30pm London time. Hutchence spoke forcefully but did not sound as if he was in an acute state of distress.

The Australian, who as a high-earning pop star may be limited in the amount of time he can spend in Britain, is thought to have wanted Ms Yates to take her four daughters to Sydney for Christmas.

It is understood that during the conversation Mr Geldof expressed his concern that his daughters should finish their school term. The conversation failed to resolve the dispute.

Police were last night due to interview Hutchence's former girlfriend, the actress Kym Wilson, and her boyfriend Christopher Stollery, who were with him when he made the call to Mr Geldof.

They drank cocktails and champagne before leaving his hotel room at about 4am, Sydney time.

Detectives said that at 9am, Hutchence made his final call, to another ex-girlfriend, Michelle Bennett. He left an answerphone message, which was not in a distressed voice but caused her to visit the hotel. Her knock on the door went unanswered and she slipped a note under the door. At noon, the body was discovered by a maid.

Later yesterday, Derrick Hand, the Sydney coroner, said: "Post-mortem examinations have determined the cause of death of Michael Hutchence was hanging. However, a coroner's investigation is still to determine whether the death was suicide."

The results of toxicology tests designed to find out whether the INXS singer was under the influence of drink or drugs at the time of his death may take several weeks.

Last night, the singer's parents, Kelland Hutchence and Patricia Glassop, said in a statement that they were "extremely shocked and deeply saddened" by the death.

"Michael was an inspiring talent who touched many people around the world with his work and will be greatly missed.

"To us and everyone close to him, he was a vibrant human being with an immense heart full of love."