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University student died from asphxia -newspaper

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 12, CMC –  The 20-year-old University of  the West Indies (UWI) student, whose body was found in her  Hall of Residence room on October 16, died as a result  of  “asphyxia or suffocation,” the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper reported on Thursday.

It said that police are now awaiting further analysis of evidence in the death of Victoria Hanley-Brown following an autopsy on Wednesday which said the primary cause of death was asphyxia or suffocation.

Hanley-Brown, 20, was found dead at the George Alleyne Hall on October 16 after a friend is believed to have found the body and raised an alarm.

“The conclusion by a government pathologist was that Hanley-Brown died from asphyxia, a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death,” the newspaper reported, adding that “the examination unearthed a “manoeuvre on the neck under unknown circumstances”.

The paper quoted a senior police officer as saying that the police made further enquiries of the pathologist regarding the “manoeuvre on the neck” and a report is expected soon.

Hanley-Brown’s death was first classified as a suspected suicide and the  police had said from the outset, they would be examining closed-circuit television footage as part of their investigation.

CMC/hs/ir/2025