A coroner hearing into the death of a Canterbury university student paints a picture of his increasing withdrawal from the outside world over the weeks before his death.
At a hearing in Christchurch on Tuesday, it was confirmed 19-year-old Mason Pendrous died between August 26 and September 10 - between two and four weeks before he was found.
In June, Pendrous made his last bank transaction, connected with the university network and texted his step-father.
During two weeks in August, his computer use became higher each day until his last connection on August 26. It's after that the coroner believes he died.
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Pendrous' body was found in his room in the Sonoda Village on September 23.
It was acknowledged at the hearing that the case has gained widespread interest.
"There's been public interest speculation and rumour about how long Mason had been dead when he was found, and there's a public concern about the delay in finding Mason's body," Coroner Sue Johnson said.
"It's not the role of the coroner to investigate that, but it's the coroner's role to determine when Mason died."
A police witness confirmed there was no evidence to suggest he died anywhere other than the dorm room at the Sonoda hall of residence.
In charge of an ongoing investigation into the death is a former High Court judge.
The exact cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Newshub.
