Former Otago Uni lecturer dies during poisoning probe

Dr Shelagh Isabella Dawson died at her Richmond home on May 9. Photo: Via NZME
Dr Shelagh Isabella Dawson died at her Richmond home on May 9. Photo: Via NZME
A Christchurch medical researcher has died from a suspected suicide after police were investigating claims she poisoned her ex-partner.

Dr Shelagh Isabella Dawson (60) a diabetes researcher, died at her Richmond home on May 9, Stuff reported.

Dr Dawson's role at the university was as a post-graduate nursing lecturer at Otago University School of Medicine. 

Post graduate nursing is taught out of the university's Christchurch campus.

A University of Otago, Christchurch spokeswoman said Dr Dawson gained her nursing PhD in the United Kingdom and while working at the university was not in a position where she was in "direct contact" with patients, research subjects or medication.

"Her first role with the Christchurch campus was as a research fellow with the New Zealand Health Technology Assessment group."

While working for this group Dr Dawson reviewed non-identifiable large data sets, not individual patient records, she said.

Before her death, police had questioned her about the poisoning of her partner, after he collapsed three times and was rushed to hospital last year.

There are also suspicions she may have fatally poisoned her husband nine years ago.

After her current partner was hospitalised, it was found his blood contained five different types of prescription medicine.

A large stash of drugs – described as "literally a suitcase full" – was also discovered at Dr Dawson's home, Stuff reported.

The drugs were reported to have been prescribed by her doctor for a number of conditions she claimed to have.

The Medical Council of New Zealand is now investigating.

After being discharged, the partner consulted lawyers and police discovered Dr Dawson had taken out a $350,000 insurance policy on his life.

The couple had been together for about three years before they split last year.

Detectives interviewed Dr Dawson twice before her death, Stuff reported. She was also under investigation by ACC and another agency over benefit fraud.

Police found the partner's symptoms were almost identical to those suffered by Dr Dawson's husband Graham Edward Dawson, 54, before he died in 2009.

Her husband's insurance company paid her $350,000 and she claimed a widow's pension from England. The couple had been married for 32 years.

Police have declined to comment on the investigation, dubbed Operation Medway, Stuff reported.

Dr Dawson's former partner also declined to comment when approached by Stuff.

A spokesperson for the coroner's office confirmed the Dr Dawson case was active and investigations were continuing.

Add a Comment