her husband time to return and testify if he wishes.

Magistrate Edward King heard most of the testimony surrounding the death of 39-year-old Fatima Ruqayyah Al-Khattab. Mrs. Al-Khattab -- also known as Carla Joyce Johnson -- died on March 6 last year below a flight of steps at a house on St. Augustine Hill.

She was found doubled over on a freezer, one hand extended with one finger of her left hand wrapped around a spoke of a pedal cycle.

Mr. King heard her stepson told an investigating officer yesterday that his father, Umar Ibin Al-Khattab was abroad and he did not know when he would return.

At first Mr. King was going to proceed with the officer's testimony, but stopped and said to Inquests Officer Phil Taylor: "You know, people can come back and make all kinds of noises.'' Sgt. Taylor, told Mr. King: "It's his choice and his choice alone that he's not here with regard to this matter.'' Mr. King decided it would be best to adjourn so that "an opportunity'' may be given to Mr. Al-Khattab -- also known as Robert "Daffy'' Bernard.

Previously, the inquest heard Mrs. Al-Khattab had been told on the week of her death that she would lose her job as a gardener with the Corporation of St.

George's. She had joined the city's work crews after leaving prison in January, 1999.

Corporation supervisor Alan Douglas said he saw Mrs. Al-Khattab on the afternoon of March 5 and noted she was "not her normal self'' and that she was "shrugging and fidgety''.

Her foreman drove her home on March 5 and rather than leave her at Till's Hill where he usually left her, she asked to be dropped off at St. Augustine Hill.

Marylyn Steede saw Mrs. Al-Khattab on March 4 and said her friend "CJ'' appeared in a good mood.

She got up the next morning, went to Hamilton for a short time and returned, then after 9 a.m. went to her clothesline in her back yard.

"I could see someone sitting in the pump room,'' Mrs. Steede said, adding she investigated and found her friend unresponsive.

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital consultant pathologist John Oladapo Obafunwa read an autopsy report which found Mrs. Al-Khattab had died as a result of "pulmonary oedema resulting from morphine overdose''.

There were very high levels of morphine (heroin) and its by-products, which he said were consistent with the body dying before the drug could be fully metabolised.

Sgt. Taylor questioned the doctor why "such a massive amount -- some 1.6 microgrammes of morphine'' would be in a person's body.

Dr. Oladapo Obafunwa told him: "It is not surprising to encounter such a high level when death has been quite rapid and samples are collected for examination.'' The autopsy reported no obvious scabs from intravenous needle usage but did note a bruise on her right forearm and a small mark in the webbing between two fingers.

Another witness, Tyoniea Bean told Mr. King she heard two people arguing outside her window between 1 and 1.30 a.m. in the area near the building's pump room. Mrs. Al-Khattab, a mother of one, was found the following morning in the pump room still wearing her Corporation of St. George's hat and uniform.