Ex-boyfriend of Kate Moss hanged himself over love split
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 3:45PM BST 12/06/2008
A former boyfriend of Kate Moss hanged himself after struggling to cope with the break-up of another relationship, an inquest has heard.
ALPHA - MIGUEL ARANA
Tarka Cordell had suffered from depression
Tarka Cordell, 41, had also suffered from depression since the death in 1995 of his father Denny, a millionaire record producer whose proteges included Joe Cocker and The Cranberries.
Mr Cordell, a part-time model, singer and scriptwriter, killed himself in April this year, after splitting from his girlfriend last August, the inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court in London was told.
Mr Cordell was known to have had several relationships in recent years and the name of his girlfriend was not given at the hearing.
He had been romantically linked to Bianca Eliot, a childhood friend and the widow of Jago Eliot, the Earl of St Germans who was found dead in his bath three years ago, but it is understood that Mrs Eliot was not the anonymous woman referred to in court.
Mrs Eliot was among the mourners at Mr Cordell's funeral last month, together with friends who included the models Sophie Dahl and Miss Moss, the actress Sienna Miller and the singer Lily Allen.
Mr Cordell, who dated Miss Moss in 1997, was found hanging by an electrical flex from his bedroom door at his home in Notting Hill, west London. Toxicology reports showed he had taken small amounts of cocaine and alcohol, neither of which had "any significance" in his death.
The Harrow-educated playboy, whose stepmother was Marina Guinness of the brewing dynasty, had started seeing a counsellor last August because "he was finding it difficult to cope with breaking up with his girlfriend", said Komi Omadoye, the coroner's officer.
Mr Omadoye added: "He adored his father and when he died in 1995 from leukaemia he suffered from bouts of depression. It is believed he never got over the death and when his father died a part of him died too."
The inquest heard that on the weekend before his death Mr Cordell had spent time with his older brother Barney, who became distressed when he was unable to contact him and sent a text message to Mr Cordell's counsellor, who discovered the body when he went to his home. No suicide note was found.
Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Paul Knapman, the coroner, said: "He clearly was much affected by the death of his father. It is clear to me that this man from time to time found it difficult to cope.
"I regret to say I record that he has died from hanging and I say that he killed himself."
Mr Cordell, who was named after Henry Williamson's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter, was born a year after his father had made his name by producing Procul Harem's classic single A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
Denny Cordell and Tarka's mother Mia split four years later, and Tarka and his brother Barney spent several years living in Hollywood with their father, who also worked with the Moody Blues and Tom Petty.
After leaving Harrow Mr Cordell was signed as a scriptwriter by United Artists and moved back to Hollywood aged just 18, though none of his screenplays was ever filmed. He moved back to London, where his striking good looks brought him modelling work and made him a regular fixture on the social scene.
He had also tried, unsuccessfully, to launch a solo music career, and said in a rare interview in 2004 that his heartfelt wish was to settle down and have children
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 3:45PM BST 12/06/2008
A former boyfriend of Kate Moss hanged himself after struggling to cope with the break-up of another relationship, an inquest has heard.
ALPHA - MIGUEL ARANA
Tarka Cordell had suffered from depression
Tarka Cordell, 41, had also suffered from depression since the death in 1995 of his father Denny, a millionaire record producer whose proteges included Joe Cocker and The Cranberries.
Mr Cordell, a part-time model, singer and scriptwriter, killed himself in April this year, after splitting from his girlfriend last August, the inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court in London was told.
Mr Cordell was known to have had several relationships in recent years and the name of his girlfriend was not given at the hearing.
He had been romantically linked to Bianca Eliot, a childhood friend and the widow of Jago Eliot, the Earl of St Germans who was found dead in his bath three years ago, but it is understood that Mrs Eliot was not the anonymous woman referred to in court.
Mrs Eliot was among the mourners at Mr Cordell's funeral last month, together with friends who included the models Sophie Dahl and Miss Moss, the actress Sienna Miller and the singer Lily Allen.
Mr Cordell, who dated Miss Moss in 1997, was found hanging by an electrical flex from his bedroom door at his home in Notting Hill, west London. Toxicology reports showed he had taken small amounts of cocaine and alcohol, neither of which had "any significance" in his death.
The Harrow-educated playboy, whose stepmother was Marina Guinness of the brewing dynasty, had started seeing a counsellor last August because "he was finding it difficult to cope with breaking up with his girlfriend", said Komi Omadoye, the coroner's officer.
Mr Omadoye added: "He adored his father and when he died in 1995 from leukaemia he suffered from bouts of depression. It is believed he never got over the death and when his father died a part of him died too."
The inquest heard that on the weekend before his death Mr Cordell had spent time with his older brother Barney, who became distressed when he was unable to contact him and sent a text message to Mr Cordell's counsellor, who discovered the body when he went to his home. No suicide note was found.
Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Paul Knapman, the coroner, said: "He clearly was much affected by the death of his father. It is clear to me that this man from time to time found it difficult to cope.
"I regret to say I record that he has died from hanging and I say that he killed himself."
Mr Cordell, who was named after Henry Williamson's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter, was born a year after his father had made his name by producing Procul Harem's classic single A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
Denny Cordell and Tarka's mother Mia split four years later, and Tarka and his brother Barney spent several years living in Hollywood with their father, who also worked with the Moody Blues and Tom Petty.
After leaving Harrow Mr Cordell was signed as a scriptwriter by United Artists and moved back to Hollywood aged just 18, though none of his screenplays was ever filmed. He moved back to London, where his striking good looks brought him modelling work and made him a regular fixture on the social scene.
He had also tried, unsuccessfully, to launch a solo music career, and said in a rare interview in 2004 that his heartfelt wish was to settle down and have children
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
And the ballerinas are amazing too!
