A MUSLIM woman from Redditch died of an overdose of paracetamol, an inquest heard.

Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round said Asya Bibi Qadeer may not have intended to kill herself so recorded an open verdict.

"In some cases, an overdose is a cry for help," said Mr Round.

Mrs Qadeer died at Kings College Hospital, London, on August 11, 2004, a day before her 22nd birthday.

The court heard how Mrs Qadeer had suffered problems in her two-year marriage. She was married in Pakistan in May 2002.

She and her husband lived in Mount Pleasant but Mrs Qadeer claimed she suffered domestic violence.

In January 2004, she gave birth to her son by caesarean but days later she again claimed she had been assaulted by her husband.

In April 2004, Mrs Qadeer left to live with her brother at an address in Redditch.

On July 31, while living at Upper Norgrove House in Webheath, Mrs Qadeer was taken to the Alexandra Hospital where she told a staff member she had taken 15 paracetamol tablets the day before.

Gravely ill, she was transferred to London, where she died.

A Home Office pathologist said she died from liver failure.