Judy Garland, the iconic actress, succumbed to an accidental overdose of sleeping pills that she had been consuming since her early days as a child performer, according to the coroner's report in London.
The coroner, Mr. Gavin Thurston, concluded that the 47-year-old Miss Garland met her untimely death due to an unintentional “incautious self-overdosage” of barbiturates at her residence on Cadogan Lane, Chelsea.
Emphasizing the accidental nature of the incident, Mr. Thurston mentioned that Miss Garland had been habituated to barbiturate usage for an extended period, leading to quinal barbitone poisoning, which proved fatal.
The coroner adamantly stated that there was no indication of any deliberate intent on her part, ruling out any suspicions of alcoholism.
He highlighted the significantly elevated level of 4.9 milligrammes per cent of barbiturates in her bloodstream, a result of consistent small doses over time.
During earlier testimonies, Dr. John Traherne, her London-based physician, disclosed that he had prescribed seconal sedatives to aid her in sleeping, indicating her dependency on these medications for rest.
Dr. Traherne shared that Miss Garland, who occasionally grappled with episodes of depression, expressed newfound happiness after her fifth marriage just three months prior, stating, “I didn't know I could be this happy.”
Additionally, the singer relied on another drug for mood enhancement, apart from her limited alcohol consumption, which mostly involved leisurely sipping vodka mixed with fruit juice over an extended period.
Contrary to expectations associated with prolonged alcohol use, the pathologist, Dr. Derek Pocock, confirmed the absence of liver cirrhosis linked to alcoholism.
Miss Garland had ingested ten one-and-a-half grain tablets, alongside displaying superficial self-inflicted wrist cuts.
Recounting their final moments together, Miss Garland's husband, Micky Deans, recounted how they watched a movie before retiring to bed, where she sought comfort by curling her feet up against him – a familiar gesture of warmth between them.
The following morning, upon attempting to relay a phone message, Mr. Deans discovered her unresponsive in the bathroom with the door secured, revealing her long-standing practice of consuming sleeping pills dating back to her early years at MGM studios.
In response to queries about her alcohol consumption, Mr. Deans clarified that she seldom drank excessively, contrary to popular belief, preferring to leisurely sip rather than indulge heavily.
Miss Garland's remains were airlifted to New York for interment, scheduled for Friday, marking the conclusion of her tumultuous journey.
