Braintree widow Jill Smith died in hospital after neighbours discovered her unconscious at her Chaucer Crescent address.

Coroner Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of natural causes at an inquest on Tuesday.

Coroner's officer Derek Sewell said Mrs Smith had a history of alcohol abuse and was taken to hospital on December 16 after neighbours found she had collapsed.

She died the next day and had suffered heart failure after taking a lot of pain killers.

Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003

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