The daughter of Massive Attack collaborator Tricky was found hanged after fearing her band had played badly and people were laughing at her, an inquest heard today.
Mina Topley-Bird was found hanged at West Park Hospital, Darlington, in May 2019 after performing with the Guildford music collective 404, in Newcastle days earlier.
An inquest into her death today heard Ms Topley-Bird was a ‘talented musician’, but was worried the gig had been poorly received.
Ms Topley-Bird was travelling back to her home in London when she had a psychotic episode and got off the train at Darlington, the inquest was told.
A friend who was with her at the time said Mina was ‘proud’ to have been clean of drink and drugs in the 12 months before her death, because ‘she was aware of their effect on her mental health.’
The 24-year-old was the daughter of trip hop pioneer Tricky and singer Martina Topley-Bird.
Mina Topley-Bird was found hanged at West Park Hospital, Darlington, in May 2019
The 24-year-old was the daughter of trip hop pioneer Tricky (pictured), and singer Martina Topley-Bird
Mina was a member of the Guildford music collective 404 and had performed with the band just days before she died
Tricky’s heartbreaking tribute to daughter who followed in his footsteps
The devastated father shared a series of images of Mazy Mina, pictured here in his arms as a newborn
Mina Topley-Bird’s father, who had a solo number 3 album with Maxinquay and appeared on Garbage’s top 10 single Milk, said his soul felt ’empty,’ when speaking about the death of his daughter.
Following the tragedy, Tricky, whose mother died when he was four, wrote on Facebook: ‘I thought I knew what loss was, but now my daughter is gone I realise I had no idea what it was after all.
‘It feels like I’m in a world that doesn’t exist, knowing nothing will ever be the same again. No words or text can really explain – my soul feels empty.
‘Mazy Mina, my daughter, had two names – some people called her Mazy, some people called her Mina.
‘She had an amazing talent for singing and songwriting; songs which will be finished and heard.
‘Your words and songs will live on, I will make sure they do. I haven’t had the strength to even look at a picture of you until now – people will hear your voice and songs.
‘All my heart – what’s left of it.’
Ms Topley-Bird’s friend and bandmate Brendan Murphy got off the train with her and tried to help, managing to get her to hospital after she tried to walk in front of fast-moving cars, the inquest heard.
Mr Murphy said in a statement that he realised she was not well after the Newcastle performance and her eyes were glazed and he tried to look after her.
On the journey back to London she was agitated, he said, and later told him she had tried to open the door of the moving train.
He got off with her at Darlington and called her grandmother who advised him to get her to the nearest hospital, where he said she continued to have a ‘severe psychotic episode’.
He got her in a taxi and took her to the Accident and Emergency unit of Darlington Memorial Hospital where she attempted to harm herself.
After she was assessed she was transferred to a secure ward at West Park Hospital where she received treatment voluntarily, and was not detained under the Mental Health Act, jurors were told.
Outlining the case to the jury, Coroner James Thompson said: ‘She was well-travelled and clearly a talented young woman.
‘She was a musician and a member of a band.
‘She had sadly suffered from mental illness for some years.’
Ms Topley-Bird had received treatment in the South West of England and London before she was under the care of medics in Darlington in the last days of her life.
She believed the gig in Newcastle had gone badly and people had laughed, Detective Sergeant John Tyers said in a statement.
The officer investigated her death and found there was no third party involvement, and said she had a history of self-harm due to mental health issues.
Staff members found her hanging in her room around 4pm on May 8, 2019 and tried in vain to save her, the officer said.
Mr Murphy said his friend had not been drinking or taking drugs and was proud to have been clear of them for at least a year, as she was aware of their effect on her mental health.
An inquest into her death today heard Ms Topley-Bird (left and right, on stage at Bush Hall in 2010), was a ‘talented musician’, but was worried the gig had been poorly received
Ms Topley-Bird was travelling back to her home in London when she had a psychotic episode and she got off the train at Darlington, the inquest was told
Clinical Psychologist Dr Sonia Burrows, who helped Ms Topley-Bird deal with psychosis, said when Mina was delusional she believed she ‘deserved to die for the bad things she had done.’
The coroner said the main topics of the inquest would be how Ms Topley-Bird came to be assessed at Darlington Memorial Hospital and her admission to West Park Hospital.
The hearing will also consider how information was shared with the South London and Maudlsey NHS Trust and what measures were taken to transfer the 24-year-old back to London.
The inquest, expected to last four days, continues.
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