A 12-year-old girl died by suicide after finding the move to a new school difficult and becoming “almost nocturnal” while spending late nights on her phone, an inquest heard.
Angel Karanja had been described as a “model student” at primary school, but struggled after joining Cornerstone Academy in Hamworthy, Poole.
She missed many lessons and told a friend shortly before her death on March 17 that she would “rather be in hell than at school”.
As Angel became increasingly withdrawn, she spent growing amounts of time playing Minecraft and watching YouTube videos on her phone.
Her father, Eliud Matindi, told the inquest in Bournemouth that his daughter’s phone use had left her living an “almost nocturnal” routine.
Angel was found in her bedroom at the family home in Poole, Dorset, at about 7.30am. Police later discovered that she had received Snapchat messages as late as 5am that morning.
Investigators examining her Samsung phone and tablet found no evidence of cyberbullying or searches connected with suicide.
The inquest heard that Angel had left no note and had not told friends what she intended to do. She had started at the 600-pupil secondary school the previous year, and her difficulties there were reflected in her declining grades.
Angel Karanja, 12, died by suicide after struggling at a new school, an inquest heard
Angel found the move to Cornerstone Academy (pictured) in Hamworthy, Poole, “difficult”
Mr Matindi told the inquest: “Angel was the light of all our lives and brightened every day.
“We have so many wonderful memories of her.
“She was a model student at primary school. She never got into trouble and was polite to everyone.
“But I would describe her move to the new school as difficult.
“It was much larger and she was very reluctant to go. She missed many classes, and her academic performance suffered.
“As she grew older, I noticed that she became more withdrawn and spent increasingly more time on her phone watching YouTube and playing games.
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“I would describe her as almost nocturnal. She slept through the day.
“When she was in her room, she spent all her time playing Minecraft.”
On the morning Angel died, her father said he called upstairs shortly after 7.30am to tell her it was time to get ready for school.
After receiving no answer despite calling three times, he went upstairs and found Angel dead in her bedroom.
He called 999 and paramedics arrived but declared her dead at the scene.
Mr Matindi said: ‘I shouted up to her it was time to get up three times.
‘But there was no response so I walked up the stairs and I found her hanging.
Angel’s body was found in her bedroom at home in Poole, Dorset, at 7.30am on March 17
‘She will forever be missed by us all.’
He said he thought his daughter had ‘turned a corner’ as her attendance had improved and she had made a group of friends in Year 8.
School friends of Angel were interviewed by police and one claimed she had been bullied by a group of girls at a sleepover.
Another told officers: ‘She said she would rather be in hell than at school.’
Dorset coroner Brendan Allen recorded a narrative conclusion that she died as a consequence of ligature suspension.
He added: ‘Her intention is not explained by the evidence.’
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