Deputy speaker’s daughter was found hanged ‘after breakdown of “toxic” relationship amid assault claim’
The young parish councillor was said to be planning her future and looking forward to Christmas, before her mother found her dead on December 15
THE daughter of the House of Commons deputy speaker was found hanged after the breakdown of a "toxic relationship", an inquest heard.
Natalie Lewis-Hoyle had struggled with the ending of a relationship and an assault she had suffered a month before she died, the Essex coroner was told.
The 28-year-old had been out drinking before her mum picked her up and drove them home in Heybridge, Essex.
The young parish councillor was said to be planning her future and looking forward to Christmas before her mother found her dead the next morning on December 15.
Her father, Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle, told the inquest he thinks she had some distressing phonecalls.
He said: "Obviously no one can judge what was in that phonecall, we know there was a reaction to that phone call, that something happened following that.
"I don't know where that takes us with third party involvement.
"We know there was third party involvement with that phone call that left them in a different state of mind."
Her family had appealed for help in deciphering what happened to Natalie in the hours that led up to her death, as they described themselves as "truly devastated".
The Labour MP said last year: “Our family will never be the same without our loving granddaughter, sister and aunty."
Her mother, Miriam Lewis, told the inquest: "It's my firm conviction there was an assault on the 23rd which was as the relationship was really deteriorating. It was a very toxic relationship."
She tearfully said: "I know that is the conclusion the police have had to draw and there's a lack of evidence.
"When someone is in psychological torment you don't get the bruises and fat lips and black eyes.
"Other than the conversations with that person there was nothing between her and her death other than the conversations with that person.
"I accept that within the law as it stands at the moment there is no third-party involvement, it is not something I'm going to be able to put out of my head."
Detective Inspector Gary Biddle however told the inquest: "There's no suspicious circumstances as far as Essex Police are involved."
After the parents paid tribute to their "pocket rocket" daughter who "lit up the room" senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict.
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She said: "I'm going to record an open conclusion, we don't have all the bits of the jigsaw.
"We'll never quite know what was going through her mind.
"She clearly was much loved.
"I hope you will be able to think back on all the happy positive memories."
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