Mix of cocaine, heroin and alcohol killed businessman, autopsy shows

A mix of hard drugs and alcohol killed one of two American businessmen found dead in a Grand Hyatt Hotel room last October, according to an autopsy report submitted to the inquest into their deaths yesterday.

The report on Paul Cherry, 45, said he died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin that might have been made more lethal by a high intake of alcohol. A report on Cherry's uncle, Richard Victore, 51 - found dead with him in room 2408 at the Wan Chai hotel on the afternoon of October 26 last year - will be read to the court today.

Government chemist Tam Wai-ming told the coroner's court yesterday he estimated the pair had consumed a 'medium to great quantity' of heroin and cocaine, indicated by a corresponding level of morphine found in their bodies.

Tests on their stomach contents and nasal swabs indicated they had snorted and swallowed the drugs at least half an hour before they died, Dr Tam said.

Witnesses earlier told the court the pair had spent their final hours at the Lockhart Road entertainment district patronising two bars, one of which they left with a Filipino dancer.

A forensic scientist who processed the crime scene told the court the most suspicious items in the hotel room were a torn square black plastic wrapper found on the coffee table and many wet towels heavily stained with vomit found scattered around the room. Chung Wai-wah said he suspected the plastic sheet might have contained illegal drugs and that the wet towels could have been used to conceal powder stains.

Dried-out residue of a pale liquid was found around the mouths of the two men, Dr Chung said.