A Japanese doctor testifying for the defence in the trial of Richard Hinds has said the active ingredient in the stress-reducing medication Nicola Furlong was taking "could have" been the cause of the 21-year-old’s impaired condition on the night of her death.
When asked by the defence if the drug’s active ingredient, Alprazoram, could have dangerous effects when mixed with alcohol, Dr Masaki Hiraiwa, a specialist in cancer treatment, said: “I don’t really know but maybe (it) could have such an effect.”
Dr Hiraiwa said that while he did not know the drug, Xanax, that had been prescribed to Ms Furlong, he had significant experience of administering a similar medication, Solanax, to his cancer patients in order to help them overcome the shock of discovering their condition.
While the drug taken on its own did not have any dangerous side effects, it could cause drowsiness and memory loss in some people, he said, adding that he always advised patients not to mix the drug with alcohol.
Substance levels found in Ms Furlong’s bloodstream were 0.002mg of the substance per 1ml of blood.
Dr Haraiwa estimated that the drug could have been taken “half a day before” her death, in the afternoon of May 23rd.
Individual responses to the drug were varied, with some unable to detect its benefits despite high dosages and others affected even by the lowest amounts, he said.
The level of the drug that had been found in Ms Furlong was below the therapeutic range – a dosage level expected to produce desired therapeutic effects, he told the court.
Girlfriend testifies
A former girlfriend of Mr Hinds also gave evidence today, speaking of the accused as a “sweet” man who “wouldn’t hurt a fly”.
Alayna Rogers, a professional singer from the US, told the Tokyo court that she had dated him three years ago when she was 17 and he was 16. The two had had sex around three times a week and he had never once hit or been rough with her, she said. Asked if he had ever been violent toward anyone or used foul language, she said no.
They had split up after 11 months but after a short time of not communicating the two had become friends again, but only platonically, she said.
Asked if she though Mr Hinds was capable of committing the crime of which he is accused, Ms Rogers said she found it inconceivable.
"It doesn’t make sense," she said, saying as a musician Mr Hinds had a “God-given gift”.
When she heard of his arrest, she "couldn’t believe it and still don't believe it," she added.