‘Begging to die’: GP denies killing his elderly mum with mercy drugs to effect parents’ ‘death pact’

A former Hobart GP has given evidence, against his wishes, into the death inquest of his two parents – one of whom he was accused of murdering with a cocktail of palliative care drugs.

From second left, Stephen Edwards, Robert Edwards, and Robert’s wife Vivian Edwards, leaving a Supreme Court of Tasmania hearing in 2016. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A former doctor has given evidence, against his wishes, into the death inquest of his two parents – one of whom he was accused of murdering with a cocktail of palliative care drugs.

Stephen Edwards, who is ill himself with liver cancer, answered a series of questions on Monday about the March 2016 deaths of his parents, David and Nelda Edwards.

The inquest has returned to Hobart for another week, after adjourning last October.

Mr Edwards was previously charged with the murder of his 88-year-old mother by administering drugs to “effect terminal sedation in circumstances of existential distress”, when she was emotionally upset by the recent deaths of her husband and eldest son.

But Tasmania’s Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charge against him in April 2020 when it became apparent the former GP was “gravely ill” himself.

Mr Edwards’ lawyer Lou Steer argued before Coroner Simon Cooper on Monday that her client shouldn’t have to give evidence as he was “quite nauseous” and “very ill today”.

“I would prefer he not give evidence today, in fact I would prefer he not give evidence at all,” she said.

But the coroner ordered Mr Edwards do just that – finding he had been “sufficiently well” to provide instruction to his lawyer and that it would “inappropriate” to excuse him

“I don’t think any excuse is made out whatsoever to excuse Mr Edwards from giving evidence,” Mr Cooper said.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Mick Allen, said a senior forensic physician had found Mrs Edwards died from “high levels of morphine and midazolam” – a palliative care sedative.

That doctor said the drugs Mrs Edwards received had been prescribed for her husband, and that there was no reason or authorisation for her to receive him.

“The administration of David’s palliative care medication to her was completely inappropriate,” Mr Allen quoted from a statement by the physician.

But Mr Edwards disagreed, arguing that his mother must have experienced an adverse health event like a heart attack or a stroke in the lead-up to her death, which changed her heart pattern and her breathing.

He agreed, under questioning from Mr Allen, that his mother had been “begging to die” – but denied he’d effected her death in circumstances where she had no signs of dying from any natural causes.

Mr Edwards – giving evidence via video link – said on the day of her death, he had simply administered sedatives so that she could sleep.

“Isn’t the situation that you, Dr Edwards, unilaterally decided to grant your mothers wish for death?” Mr Allen asked.

“No, I was granting her wish for sleep,” Mr Edwards replied.

He also denied cleaning up and removing drugs and drug paraphernalia – like ampoules of morphine and syringes – before police arrived at his parent’s Sandy Bay home.

Mr Edwards’ brother, Robert, also gave evidence on Monday.

Robert Edwards was previously charged with conspiring with his brother to pervert the course of justice by lying to police and prosecutors to avoid prosecution – but that charge was dropped too.

David Edwards and Nelda Edwards

He told the coroner that he didn’t see his brother giving their mother any drugs, and had not been aware of whether this had happened or not.

Robert admitted that as his mother lay dying, he briefly put his hand over her mouth and said “go to Dad, I know you want to be with him” – referring to David, who had died two days earlier.

But he said the action was momentary, and that the story about it had “now created a life of its own”.

Robert spoke of a “death pact” between his parents, claiming his mother hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since their son died in Thailand two weeks prior.

“Mum was distraught, there was no life in her eyes,” he said.

“I think that Stephen did the right thing by our mum, and did not give her an overdose of anything.”

The inquest will continue until Friday.

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