Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2005 BBC
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN BOY 'LECTURED ABOUT DRUGS'

A 13-year-old schoolboy was lectured on the dangers of heroin hours 
before taking a fatal overdose, a court heard.

Matthew Girvin, from Exmouth, Devon, died on 10 September 2004 after 
snorting heroin through a pen tube.

The warning was from Matthew's drug addict uncle, Sean Graham, 40, 
who was looking after him, who said he was an example "of the effect 
drugs can have".

Mr Graham of Ashford Road, Exeter, denies manslaughter through 
negligence and a second charge of cruelty.

'Heroin Kills'

Exeter Crown Court has heard how Mr Graham was looking after Matthew 
and his 11-year-old sister, Daisy, while their mother, his divorced 
sister, Gina Graham, was visiting a boyfriend in Bristol on 9 September.

Mr Graham told the court on Thursday that he went to her home in 
Brimpenny Road, Exmouth, to look after the youngsters.

That night when Matthew returned home at about 2130 BST the youngster 
had had "a smoke of cannabis, I could see it a mile off", Mr Graham 
told the jury.

 From about 2245 BST that night he told how he spoke to Matthew about 
the misuse of drugs, saying: "I tried to tell him heroin kills."

Graham said he used himself and his brother, Jason, who died from 
heroin use, as "examples of the effect drugs can have".

At about midnight Mr Graham injected himself with UKP 10-worth of 
heroin and took a couple of valium tablets, though not in Matthew's presence.

He then fell asleep on the settee at around 0400 BST, and awoke 
between 0700 and 0800 BST to see Matthew asleep in a chair.

Matthew "groaned" when he tried to wake him, but looked "okay".

'Sleep It Off'

But when two of Graham's friends arrived later Matthew was "not a 
good colour, paler".

Graham said he checked the boy's breathing with a mirror, and his 
pulse, and told his friends: "We have got to get him to hospital quickly."

He said he never suspected the boy had taken heroin, otherwise he 
would have called an ambulance.

None of the heroin Graham had at the house was missing, he told the jury.

Mr Meeke put it to Graham in cross examination: "You knew Matthew had 
taken heroin and hoped he would sleep it off."

"No," replied Graham.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.
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