Student died of alcohol poisoning, inquest told

James Webster died after drinking vodka at a party. Photo / Supplied

A mother has told a court she knew teenager James Webster was dead as soon as she walked into the room where he had been put to bed after her daughter's party.

An inquest into James' death began this morning at the Auckland Coroner's Court.

The 16-year-old died on May 9 after he sculled from a bottle of straight vodka at a party at an Returned Services Club in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn.

James' parents, Charles and Penny Webster from Thames, didn't know he was at the party - he had told them he would spend the night studying at a friend's house. He was a Year 12 boarder at King's College.

Rachel Louise Carter told the inquest she took James home from her daughter's 16th birthday party at the RSA because he was drifting in and out of consciousness, vomiting and moaning.

She checked him the next morning and knew at once something was wrong

"He was, as soon as I walked in, I knew. He was it is hard to explain, you can sense death. The house had an eerie feeling and I went into the bedroom."

"As soon as I walked into the room I knew he was dead."

Ms Carter walked in and called out "James"... He was cold, he was a bit stiff, he was dead." She touched his neck for a pulse and found nothing.

The court earlier heard James died from acute alcohol poisoning.

Sergeant Paul Black told Coroner Gordon Matenga that James arrived at the party about 7pm-7.30pm and was soon drinking from a bottle that had been "secreted" into the building.

"He was seen by colleagues sculling back the contents of the bottle." He was soon rendered unconscious and was carried outside and placed in the recovery position. His condition was routinely checked, Mr Black said.

A parent decided to take him about 9.30pm to "sleep his condition off". He was last checked at 2am.

Mr Black said the alcohol in James' blood was measured at 391 milligrams of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood, but police found no suspicious circumstances to his death.

Coroner Matenga asked him if the police used their discretion not to hold anyone liable for James death, even though the RSA didn't have a proper liquor licence.

Mr Black said that was correct and he believed the RSA would have been granted a licence if one had been applied for.