A young woman who died ten years after suffering severe brain damage in a fire at her home was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled. Catriona Braithwaite suffered severe brain injuries during the blaze that was started by her father Philip Braithwaite in an attempt to kill himself and his family.
Philip, 49, died at the scene and younger daughter Jessica, aged seven, sadly died in hospital the following day. Catriona was just nine at the time and although she was rescued, she suffered brain injuries through lack of oxygen, leaving her needing specialist carers.
In August 2021, Catriona, 20, who also had cerebral palsy, was taken to James Cook University Hospital suffering from pneumonia and sadly passed away on September 1, 2021, Teesside Live reports.
