A recruiting consultant, found dead in her flat in Clifton, may not have intended to take her own life, a coroner has concluded.
Smita Pandya was found hanged in her home on the morning of January 24, 2016.
But despite recent battles with depression the coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say with certainty she had intended to end her life through her actions. Her mother had been the last person to speak to her, around 10 days before her death.
A neighbour had alerted the police after he grew concerned, having not seen Miss Pandya for around a week. This was despite being able to hear her dog barking and her door remaining ajar for several days.
Myfanwy Buckeridge, Assistant Coroner at Avon Coroners Court reached her conclusion. Speaking in court she said: "Having spoken to her mother on January 13 or 14 and having left the door ajar, and evidence she had been looking for a new job I have come to the conclusion Smita Pandya took her own life, but the question of intent is unclear.”
Miss Pandya, 46, had been the head of her own recruitment consultancy firm in the aviation industry, having left her previous role with a recruitment consultancy agency, a few years before.
However, a statement from her brother, Dr Pandya, which was read out in the Coroners Court revealed her company had begun to struggle and that her family had suggested she find alternative, less stressful work.
A rejection letter from a branch of Boots indicated she had been trying to find alternative work.
The statement from her brother also said she had been diagnosed with depression in 2003, while studying at the University of Manchester. It was something which affected her at various times in her life including at the end of 2015. But just before a three week holiday with her mother, to India, in November she had made a noticeable improvement. according to her family and GP.
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