Louella Michie trial: Drug that killed woman at Bestival 'makes trees look like demons and giant dinosaur creatures', court hears

Boyfriend's trial hears experiences of other users of 2-CP

Louella Fletcher-Michie was found dead after taking party drug 2CP at Bestival site at Lulworth Castle in Dorset (PA)

Users who have taken the party drug that killed the daughter of Holby City star John Michie have described “intense and unforgiving” experiences when taking the hallucinogenic drug.

Louella Fletcher-Michie, 24, took class A substance 2-CP at Bestival in Dorset on 10 September 2017 and died in nearby woods an hour before her 25th birthday.

It is alleged she was given drugs by her on-off boyfriend Ceon Broughton, 29, and died as her parents went to help her.

Broughton, of Enfield, north London, denies manslaughter by gross negligence and supplying the drug.

During evidence given by Professor Charles Deakin, a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care, Winchester Crown Court was told of reported experiences by people who took the drug.

Stephen Kamlish QC, defending, said a report described it as “long-lasting and like LSD”.

He added: “Some people have found it to be intense and challenging, particularly when taken in high doses.”

One user in the report stated: “The experience was not fun; around the ninth hour I began to feel bummed out by the duration of it, I just wanted to sleep.”

Another stated: “Trees around me were frightening, took on the characteristics of demons and giant dinosaur creatures.”

Another wrote: “This drug is physically and psychologically draining. I realised how intense and unforgiving 2-CP is.”

Mr Kamlish has previously told the trial “no-one has ever been known to die from taking this drug (2-CP) or taking an overdose”.

The reports also stated the onset of the drug took one to three hours, coming up took two to four hours, plateau of five to 10 hours, coming down for two to four hours and after-effects for up to 24 hours.

The court previously heard Ms Fletcher-Michie was found dead by a security steward in the woodland, 400 metres from the festival’s hospital tent, at about 1am.

The jury has been shown a 50-minute video of Ms Fletcher-Michie, taken by Broughton, in which she shouts: “This is the best trip I have ever f****** had.”

But as her condition deteriorated, Broughton ignored pleas from her family to seek help and continued to film even after she was dead, the prosecution claims.

A post-mortem examination found “2-CP toxicity” and traces of ketamine and MDMA in her body.

In Prof Deakin’s own report, read to the court, the expert witness stated: “I believe that Louella stood a very good chance of survival if she had received medical help prior to her becoming unresponsive.”

Det Sgt David Wise, of Dorset Police, told the court sniffer dogs alerted officers to 225 people entering the festival site, of which 36 per cent showed positive results but no 2-CP was recovered.

The trial continues.

Reporting by the Press Association