Court told how drug supplier advised against hospital treatment for overdose victim

A man who in 2006 was jailed for 25 years for his involvement in the death of a woman from a drug overdose today testified in court against David Gatt, 32, who stands accused of murder for having supplied her the drug.

Jason Decelis, along with his mother, had been jailed for murder by omission for not having helped overdose victim Rachel Bowdler, 18. He told the court today that he had seen Bowdler at Gatt’s house on the day she died. She had called to buy heroin, and she had given him her mobile phone as payment. Gatt had cooked the heroin and she injected it herself.

Mr Decelis said that later that day Bowdler fell asleep at his house. He had called Mr Gatt who advised him to inject salt and water into her vein.When she still did not recover he again phoned him several times but was urged not to take her to hospital for fear of arrest.

At 11.30 p.m. that day he went back to Mr Gatt’s house with his mother to discuss what they would do.The accused urged them to wait till the morning.

In the morning he told them where to leave her body and personal things. Together with his parents they dumped her on the road leading to Golden Bay.