MODEL'S GLAMOROUS LIFE ENDED IN HEROIN SQUALOR

A FORMER fashion model who married into the Monaco Royal Family died
after overdosing herself on drugs in her London flat, an inquest was
told yesterday.

Michelle Lutken de Massy, 41, the former lover of the shipping
billionaire Constantine Niarchos, was found slumped on the floor in
the hallway of her Kensington home in November last year. A trail of
blood ran from a puncture wound in her hand and she was surrounded by
wraps of heroin, syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Details of her hedonistic lifestyle and acute addiction emerged at
Westminster Coroner's Court. She married Baron Christian de Massy,
nephew of Prince Rainier of Monaco, and underwent treatment in 13
different rehabilitation centres. She first took drugs at 16 and
became hooked on cocaine at 17 while modelling in Milan.

Her death mirrored that of Constantine Niarchos, whose body she found
after he had spooned a huge amount of cocaine into his mouth. On
November 24, George Crump, her cat sitter, managed to resuscitate her
when he found her slumped in the lavatory after taking an overdose.

Mr Crump, a commodities broker, told the inquest that he returned to
the home the following day.

"On Sunday, Miss de Massy got up and I went to prepare some food. She
was tired, but I said to her, 'You're not going to do anything?
Because I'm not going out the door.'

"She said, 'No, I'm not going to take anything, I promise.'
"

He went shopping and returned to the home in Phillimore Gardens and
discovered her collapsed on the floor.

"I returned to find her slumped in the lounge hallway in a collapsed
state. Near by was a syringe."

He called an ambulance and tried to revive her. When paramedics
arrived, they pronounced her dead at the scene.

PC Steve Shakeshaft said he discovered her surrounded by boxes and
clothes. "She was lying on the floor with her legs and arms
outstretched on a carpet covered in specks of blood," he said.

"Beside her was a syringe, silver dish and spoon and a wrap of
heroin."

Professor Sir Colin Berry, the pathologist, said she had taken a
mixture of amitriptyline, and diazepam.

"All of them were at the upper level of the dose usually taken in
therapy," he said. "But she had also quite clearly taken what is
probably heroin within the course of 24 hours and she had well
established cirrhosis of the liver." He gave the cause of her death as
mixed drug intoxication in association with cirrhosis of the liver.

A report from doctors from Monaco said she had a past of
multi-addictions, including opiates, cocaine and alcohol.

Miss De Massy was born in Oslo and married into Monaco's Royal Family
at the age of 20. The glamorous couple moved to New York where they
mixed with celebrities including Andy Warhol and the singers Grace
Jones and Marvin Gaye.

She once admitted inviting 80 guests to a party and giving them each
half a gram of cocaine as a pudding. She suffered a near-fatal car
crash in Miami which affected her memory.

The couple divorced in 1987 and she supported Aids charities in
America. She has also been friends with Bjorn Borg and was the former
lover of his doubles partner Vitus Gerulaitis, who also died from a
drug overdose.

Nanzee Soin, a friend, told the inquest that Miss de Massy had
recently returned from having addiction treatment at Monaco's
exclusive Princess Grace Hospital. She was due to get treatment at the
Priory Clinic in London.

Miss Soin, from Tooting, South London, broke down in tears as she
said: "She was a very, very good person with a heart of gold who had a
lot of problems. It is horrible she died in these circumstances."

Denying claims that the flat appeared unkempt, she said: "I could
bring a host of people who were there last year who will tell you she
was one of the style icons of London."

Speaking outside the court, she added: "Michelle had a lot of problems
with her childhood and she had been the victim of serious violence.
She was beautiful and intelligent, but despite that she had very
little self-esteem. She did not believe anybody would like her for
herself, so she chose to disguise herself by taking drugs."

Dr Paul Knapman, the coroner, recorded a verdict of death by
misadventure.