BBC correspondent David Willis reports from Sydney (2'49")

The coroner investigating the death of the rock star Michael Hutchence has recorded a verdict of suicide.

The coroner said Hutchence took his own life because of depression, caused partly by his ongoing custody battle with Sir Bob Geldof.

Hutchence was engaged to Geldof's former wife, Paula Yates.

The singer was found dead in Sydney's Ritz-Carlton Hotel last November. He was hanging by a belt from his bedroom door.

Hutchence and Yates had a baby girl called Heavenly Hirani Tiger Lily

The New South Wales Coroner, Derek Hand, said police and forensic inquiries had revealed that Michael Hutchence had been drinking heavily and taking cocaine, as well as the anti-depressant drug Prozac on the night that he died.

His fiancée, Paula Yates, had been involved in a custody battle with Sir Bob Geldof for the right to move their children to Australia to be with Hutchence.

Abusive phone calls

In his final few hours, the coroner said Hutchence made two desperate phone calls to Sir Bob which were "hectoring and abusive" in nature.

Coroner Derek Hand says he is satisfied this was suicide. (30")

"Considering the evidence, I am satisfied the deceased was in a severely depressed state on the day that he died", Mr Hand said.

"This" he added, "was due to a number of factors, including his ongoing dispute with Sir Bob Geldof, and the effects of the substances that he had ingested. I am satisfied that he did take his own life", Mr Hand concluded.

There will be no inquest into the death at the exclusive Sydney hotel.

After his death, rumours quickly surfaced that Hutchence had died during the course of a sex game that went wrong.

But the coroner said there was no evidence to support such speculation. He also said there was no other person involved in the death.

There will be no inquest.

Geldof received two calls from Hutchence

Just weeks ago, the rock star's ashes were split three ways following disagreements between his parents and Paula Yates over what to do with them.

His father, Kel, and brother, Rhett, spread a third of his remains over Sydney Harbour three weeks ago, on what would have been Hutchence's 38th birthday.
 

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