Pubdate: Thu, 02 Sep 1999
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Author: Stephen Gibbs

'I WILL KILL MYSELF WITH HEROIN'

A 15-year-old boy who died of a drug overdose after being expelled from a
farm for troubled youths had threatened to buy heroin and kill himself, an
inquest heard yesterday.

Jai Thomas Lambley died at Darlinghurst on February 11 last year, six days
after he was expelled from the Triple Care Farm at Robertson, in the
Southern Highlands, for sexually harassing two girls.

On February 5, he had been driven to Moss Vale and told to catch a train to
Campbelltown where he was supposed to attend a Department of Community
Services office. But he went to Kings Cross and died.

Two staff from Triple Care Farm told Glebe Coroner's Court yesterday they
understood Jai had threatened to buy a hit of heroin and kill himself on the
day he was expelled.

Jai had been placed at the non-government run farm by DOCS after being given
bail from Bidura Children's Court, where he had been found guilty of four
armed robberies.

The institution's manager, Mr Warren Holt, told the coroner Jai entered the
farm on January 27 but did not participate properly in work programs. On
February 5, after fondling and threatening two female students, he was
expelled.

A staff member, Mr Paul Ray, drove Jai to Moss Vale and gave him $10 for a
train ticket. A DOCS officer was later told what had happened.

Mr Holt said Mr Ray reported the boy had threatened to buy heroin and "do
himself in". He considered the threat an outburst. Jai did not exhibit the
sort of behaviour which would have convinced him the danger was real.

Another staff member, Mr Trevor Summers, said Mr Ray told him Jai had
threatened to burn down the farm, buy a shot of heroin and kill himself.

The inquest continues.

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