Gifted GCSE student Amy Burgess, who leapt to her death from a multi-storey car park, had trouble with written exams, an inquest heard.

The 16-year-old, of West Mersea, was also a deeply unhappy person who did not see the point of life in general.

Recording an open verdict, Essex Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir, acknowledged exam stress was a factor in her decision to jump but not the only reason.

Colchester Coroner's Court yesterday heard how Amy, a pupil at Philip Morant School, in Colchester, was "streets ahead" of other students her age and a perfectionist especially with her favourite subjects art and English.

But she found it hard to write her thoughts down.

She had had emotional problems when she was just 12 and took an overdose of tablets last March while preparing for her art exam.

After the incident she rang her English teacher Peter Johnson and Dr Weir said this indicated the suicide attempt was a cry for help.

On May 20 she went to school for her first GCSE exam, a German oral, but left without taking it.

At 4.30pm a witness saw her "run and jump" over the barrier from the NCP car park in Nunn's Road, Colchester. She died of multiple injuries.

She left no suicide note and, Dr Weir said, the method in which she died was not proof she wanted to kill herself.

Dr Weir added: "There was some evidence that exams were preying on her mind and that was a factor, but whether it was the main factor I doubt."

Open verdict - Amy Burgess

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