Man took his own life after fatally strangling girlfriend during sex

Professional dancer Georgia Brooke, 26, of Ossett near Wakefield, was choked by Luke Cannon, who himself was found dead the next day, Bradford Coroner's Court was told.

Senior coroner Martin Fleming ruled Miss Brooke was unlawfully killed during her inquest yesterday.

Mr Cannon’s inquest took place today, with Mr Fleming concluding the 31-year-old had died by suicide.

Proceedings were told Mr Cannon accompanied Miss Brooke to Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) on the night of the incident on February 3, 2022.

He fled the hospital after she passed away and police launched a murder investigation.

A resident found Mr Cannon’s body in a wooded area near BRI on February 4, 2022.

The inquest was held at Bradford Coroner's Court in Little Germany (Image: Archive)

Detective Sergeant Phil Hardwick, of West Yorkshire Police, told the court: “He (Mr Cannon) was the person responsible for causing Georgia’s death.”

Yesterday, Mr Fleming said while there was no evidence Mr Cannon had intended to kill his girlfriend during the incident at his home on Woodhall Avenue, he had used “excessive” force.

Asked by Mr Fleming today if there was “any evidence this practice (sexual choking) had been used before between the two”, Det Serg Hardwick said: “Yes.”

Post-mortem reports found traces of GHB, cocaine and viagra in his blood.

In a statement read out during the inquest, Mr Cannon’s mother Jane described her son as a “wonderful” man who was “kind and thoughtful”.

“If he heard anyone was sad, he’d do his best to help and cheer them up,” she said.

“We all miss him so much.”

She said her son - who was a self-employed consultant - formerly worked as a model, a TV extra and a personal trainer, and he was also a retained firefighter.

He had a number of interests, including cycling, hiking, going to the gym and going out with friends, she added.

She said her son was “very happy and content” with Miss Brooke and he was “looking forward to the future”.

The coroner described both deaths as “tragic”.

Mr Fleming said Mr Cannon was “so overwhelmed“ with “paramount regret” after what had happened to his girlfriend that he intended to take his own life. He recorded a conclusion that Mr Cannon had died by suicide and offered his condolences at the end of the inquest.

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