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Cops 'assumed raver died from drugs'
By Crystal Ja
AAP
May 25, 2009 05:56pm
Inquest ... a post-mortem examination uncovered no trace of drugs in Daneeka Nixon's system / Police Media
POLICE presumed the death of a woman at an all-night rave was caused by drugs and alcohol instead of following up other leads, a coroner has been told.
Daneeka Nixon, 25, was found lifeless in a dam several days after going missing from a "doof party" held near Lismore in April 2006.
Police believed the death to be non-suspicious after witnesses told them she had been drinking and taking drugs on the night.
A coronial inquest today heard various witnesses reported seeing her "roaming around in a state of apparent confusion" before she was last seen walking in the direction of the dam.
But Detective Senior Constable Adam Rhodes was forced to admit police had made an early assumption based on those facts.
"Was an assumption made by police that following a doof party where drugs were consumed ... she had wandered off and drowned," Andrew Boe, for Ms Nixon's family, asked.
"Yes," Det Snr Const Rhodes replied.
"And did that close off any desire to investigate whether that assumption was correct?" Mr Boe continued.
"There was no injuries or any assault prior to, or any evidence anyone wanted to harm Daneeka," Det Rhodes replied.
But police were aware Ms Nixon had had a verbal stoush with a male stranger at the party, who has since been called to give evidence at the inquest.
A post-mortem examination uncovered no trace of drugs in her system and only a small amount of alcohol.
Ms Nixon was without her shoes or underwear when found in the dam and Det Rhodes conceded it was possible she may have been dead before she entered the body of water.
Police were also criticised for taking almost a week to find Ms Nixon's body.
There is no recorded evidence of police conducting a search of the water - only its perimeter - prior to the discovery of her body.
Ms Nixon's father, Paul, had earlier rung police, complaining about the dam not being searched and was barred from entering the property after offering to look in it himself.
Mr Boe said Ms Nixon's family had various concerns about the manner of the police investigation.
Her parents and other family members were in court to hear the evidence before Deputy State Coroner Malcolm MacPherson, who warned them it could be traumatic.
Counsel assisting the coroner Duane Carey said the inquest was expected to continue for five days and hear from Ms Nixon's friends who were among the 250 people at the rave.
News.com.au