Brittany Murphy cause of death: Toxicology tests suggest star may have been poisoned 'with criminal intent'

High levels of ten heavy metals were detected in the actress' tissue samples

Brittany Murphy's father is pushing for the inquiry into her death to be re-opened after heavy metals were found in her tissue samples (Alessandro Abbonizio/Getty Images)

Brittany Murphy may have been poisoned "with likely criminal intent" according to a new toxicologist report.

Lab reports conducted by the Carlson Company in Colorado detected 10 heavy metals at abnormal levels in tissue samples, stating that "exposure to metals administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent" was a possible explanation for Murphy's sudden death.

A coroner originally attributed her death in 2009 to drug intoxication, pneumonia and anaemia, but the late star's father requested further toxicology tests when the autopsy revealed unusually high levels of heavy metals.

A verdict of death by accidental and natural causes was given at the time.

The actress' husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, was found dead just five months after Murphy, with pneumonia and anaemia named as the cause.

Angelo Bertolotti, Murphy's father, sued the coroner's office to obtain his daughter's physical samples for independent testing after it admitted her body had not tested for poisonous substances.

Murphy's father said he was determined to debunk "vicious rumours" spread by the press about his daughter's lifestyle, which stemmed from the original autopsy.

"My daughter was neither anorexic not a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied," he told The Examiner. "I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany."

Bertolotti recently alleged in an interview with Fleur De Lis Film Studios that Murphy was under surveillance from the government after openly supporting the Department of Homeland Security whistleblower Julia Davis.

Heavy metals are commonly found in chemicals used to kill rodents and insects, with symptoms including headaches, abdominal cramps, tremors, disorientation, congestion and pneumonia.

There are no further plans to reopen the inquiry.

Chief Coroner Investigator Craig R Harvey said: "The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has no plans to reopen our inquiry into the deaths. We stand by our original reports.

"We have not been presented with any [third] party lab test results for analysis, so we are unable to comment on publicised reports of private lab tests."