Mystery remains over British student's Ibiza ecstasy death

Rebecca Brock, 18, was discovered in a pool of blood inside a hotel room. Photo / Facebook

By Paddy Dinham, Charlie Bayliss and Rory Tingle

Mystery still surrounds the case of a British law student found dead in Ibiza after five bags of ecstasy tablets exploded in her stomach - with UK police claiming there are holes in the Spanish investigation.

An English coroner concluded this week that Rebecca Brock's death was most likely caused by MDMA intoxication after the drugs exploded in her stomach but added, 'How these bags were in her stomach, we will never know.'

Rebecca's family is angry at the Spanish police for not examining the possibility the 18-year-old was forced to ingest the tablets by someone with a criminal motivation, reports Daily Mail.

They have been informed in private by UK officers that something about the probe "stinks", reported The Sun.

Nottingham Coroners' Court heard staff found Rebecca unresponsive in her room at the Hotel Marco Polo on September 28 2015.

Spanish police began an investigation after the amount of the Class A drug MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy, found in her system was "double the level" of a normal fatal dose.

Her mother Margarita Brock told an inquest how she believed her daughter may have been forced to swallow the drugs.

Fighting back tears, she said her daughter would not have willingly taken the pills because she was unable to swallow tablets.

Mrs Brock revealed how her daughter had openly talked about experimenting with cocaine in the past but did not think she would've taken so much ecstasy in one go.

Rebecca made three trips to Ibiza in quick succession in 2015, one in July, the next in August and the third in September.

This led Spanish police to initially investigate claims she was a drugs trafficker.

But Mrs Brock insists her daughter did not swallow the drugs willingly and that someone must have forced her to do so.

And the lack of investigation into a possible criminal element in Rebecca's death is not the only criticism meted at the Spanish authorities.

Concerns have also been raised about the accuracy of toxicology tests carried out on the student's body.

Toxicologist Dr Stephen Morley said Spanish authorities had found that Becky had died around 48 hours before she was found in her room.

He said traces of alcohol and a "potentially fatal concentration" of ecstasy were found in her body.

However, the conclusion that Rebecca died on September 26 could be problematic, as she had not been seen after the early hours of September 23.

Nottinghamshire coroner Mairin Casey said: "Becky's parents, Margo and Martin, dearly cared for her.

"Becky was an engaging young person, was extremely sociable and had many friends including many sustained friendships.

"I'm also aware she established friendships in short periods of time. She had a close relationship with her family - especially with her sister.

"She had parties at her house where friends would come and go. She was an independent young woman, she was only 18 when she went to study abroad.

"She was a very gifted young woman - academically gifted. She didn't seem to struggle with exams and school work.

"She did have some issues relating to her physical health. She had some body image issues, undergoing other possible conditions.

"She was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome in 2015. There was a remarkable, significant loss of weight in the summer of 2015.

"Outside of school she enjoyed dance, drama and singing - she had high expectations of herself.

"In July 2015 she had gone to Ibiza and she went again in August - so September was the third trip.

"In July when she attended with her sister, Anika, she did try cocaine - this was not unusual for young people going to Ibiza.

Nottingham Coroners' Court heard staff found the 'academically gifted' student (centre) unresponsive in her room at the Hotel Marco Polo. Photo / Twitter

"Her sister had not taken up the offer of cocaine. The reality is in July she had experimented.

"The trip to Ibiza in September, Becky had been taken to university in Holland and she was keen to experience the closing down parties and end of season parties.

"She had two friends, Hannah and Ellie, celebrating birthdays in Ibiza. I don't believe Ellie was aware Becky was in Ibiza.

"How these bags were in her stomach we will never know.

"On this trip to Ibiza nobody actually saw Becky take drugs at the time - that is my understanding. What is plain is that nobody can give an explanation as to how this came into her system."

Nottinghamshire coroner Mairin Casey added: 'We remain, sadly, without some information that is particularly significant to the family and indeed for me.

"On September 22 Becky flew to Ibiza from the Netherlands - it was something she had organised herself.

"She was captured on CCTV imaging and it is clear she had checked into her hotel.

"On her arrival Becky had various communications.

"(Becky and her friends) planned to meet on the night of September 22 and they went to a club - with many of them socialising together.

"She didn't have any contact with anyone after September 23.'

The coroner concluded: "The evidence given (by the experts) was extensive and today I rely on their reports to make the following findings.

"Becky died of MDMA intoxication commonly known as ecstasy.

"I find that no other substance was found in her body that could have contributed to her death.

"I find that she had not taken alcohol other than in a moderate amount. There was no evidence of a form of assault.

"I find it impossible to say how a pack or packs were ingested. How these bags were in her stomach we will never know.

"It is like that Becky became unwell and confused and most probably died a short time thereafter.

"It is not possible to say whether she would have been conscious or not. The conclusion I arrive at is this is a drug related death."

Reflecting on the outcome of the police investigation and subsequent UK hearing, Mrs Brock said: "The coroner probably said it all. I don't want to add much more than that.

"There are some answers but there are also some clear gaps."