An Environmental Science and Research report, read to Coroner Garry Evans by Detective Sergeant Scott Armstrong in Auckland District Court today, said traces of methamphetamine were found in Dixon's blood and urine when a post-mortem examination was conducted on his body.
Dixon died in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo in February 2009, the day before he was to be resentenced over a P-fuelled night of violence in 2003 which included a samurai sword attack on Renee Gunbie and Simone Butler, and the murder of James Te Aute.
Prison officials found him dead in his cell from what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries.
The coroner was told Dixon died as a result of neck compression due to hanging.
He was found with bloody fabric around his neck, which was consistent with material that had been removed from his prison blanket.
He had several cuts and bruises on his body, consistent with him being restrained in the days prior to his death.
Earlier, the inquest got off to a fiery start with a family member saying he was misled by the court.
Dixon's brother Julian Dixon said he had not been informed it was a public hearing and that media would be present.
"The situation appears to be quite different to what I had understood,'' he told Coroner Garry Evans
"I don't believe I've been kept informed. I believe I've been misled in the sense of my turning up here today, that there was no indication whether it was going to be a private or public matter.''
He said he was not prepared to address an open court.
"You can understand it changes my circumstances with regards to legal representation.''
He was concerned the inquest could be a "public spectacle" and he cited his family's right to privacy.
Mr Dixon requested that the media be ordered not to report on the proceeding.
Coroner Evans said there was no such thing as a private inquest.
He said Dixon's family had made "very serious allegations" that prison authorities had attempted to cover up the circumstances surrounding the death, and they had the right to set the record straight.
"There have been allegations made publicly that the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice have been trying to hide facts with a view to hoping that this inquest will go away,'' he said.
"The public has read those allegations and the department and the ministry are entitled to say that quite contrary, the evidence before this inquest will be full and complete.''
Two letters were sent to the family about the nature of the inquest, but these were not responded to, he said.
Coroner Evans found it would not be lawful for the inquest to be held in chambers. Coroners were required to hold public inquests into the deaths of all prisoners, he said.
Dixon's sister Carla Dixon has said the wait for a coroner's inquest into the death was suspicious.
"The longer it goes the more I think people are just hoping it will be forgotten and it's just going to get shelved deeper and deeper and there's going to be more excuses about the evidence that can't be found or the CCTV images that can't be found."
"To me the longer it goes the more it feels like a cover up."
Dixon's defence lawyer Barry Hart had criticised corrections for its handling of Dixon's care, saying it was clear his client was descending into paranoia in the weeks before his death.
Hart is himself appearing before the court this morning with the Law Society's standards committee attempting to have him struck off after he "grossly" overcharged clients.
Antonie Dixon
2003: Fuelled by P, Dixon attacks Simone Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai sword in Pipiroa before driving to Auckland and shooting dead James Te Aute. He then holds Ian Miller hostage in his home.
2005: At his trial Dixon claims he is insane. He is found guilty of murder, grievous bodily harm, firearms charges and shooting at police.
2008: Dixon has a second trial after his first conviction was quashed but is again found guilty.
2009: Dixon is found dead in his cell, the night before he was due to reappear in court.
2012: Inquest into Dixon's death held by Coroner Garry Evans.
