Teacher died of natural causes A MUSIC teacher died as he sat with a cup of coffee and a cigarette, an Oxford inquest heard yesterday.

Ceri Williams, 37, of Austin Drive, Banbury, was found sitting in an armchair, by his partner of 13 years, Paulus Sebastion-Numarco.

Mr Sebastion-Numarco said he discovered Mr Williams's body at about 2.25pm on January 13.

He said: "I got home and went straight into the kitchen and could see him in the armchair in the sitting room.

"I was speaking to him and got no reply so I went over there and it was clear that he was dead. I touched his arm and face but they were both very cold."

Dr Godman Greywoode, pathologist at The Horton Hospital, Banbury, said no serious toxins or abnormalities were found.

After hearing evidence from Mr Williams's GP, Dr Douglas Boyle, about suspected heart murmurs between 1979 and 1981, Dr Greywoode said this could have been a contributory factor in the death.

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said there was no reasonable explanation for the death, and recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

He said: "Cases where death cannot be established are fairly rare but they do happen from time to time."

Because of overwhelming evidence that nothing suspicious had happened to Mr Williams, he recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. Then I called the emergency services."

Mr Sebastion-Numarco said that he had spoken to Mr Williams the night before and he seemed absolutely fine, in good health and in good spirits.

DC Steven Butler, of Banbury CID, one of the first police officers to arrive at the scene. said there was no signs of violence and no suspicious circumstances.

He said: "One of his arms was on the chair arm still holding a cigarette with the ash undisturbed and burnt all the way down and there was half a cup of coffee by his side."