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Verdict on man's death set for today

Magistrate Edward King will this morning deliver a ruling on the death of leading musician and member of the Bahai faith, Andrew Morrison.

During an inquest yesterday, Mr. King heard that during the last 10 years of his life, Mr. Morrison had battled depression but had alternately taken and rejected medication for the condition.

A music teacher and fixture at concerts and weddings alike, Mr. Morrison lived at Marl Lane, Warwick.

A tourist and a resident found Mr. Morrison wedged between rocks at the base of a 100-foot cliff at Astwood Cove on June 9 last year.

His mother Eileen, in a statement to Police said Bermuda had lost a "very good person'' and had indicated he was upset that morning at an article appearing in the Bermuda Son on his faith's Race Unity Day.

"He was a very gentle person who set very high standards but was very hard on himself,'' she told Police.

Mr. Morrison received his Bermuda Status by birth through his mother in 1995.

An autopsy report concluded he had died as a result of injuries sustained after a fall. Mr. Morrison was an otherwise healthy man of 41.

He suffered broken ribs, a blow to the head and numerous bruises about the chest, arms and legs.

Singer and friend Darlene Simons testified she became worried about Mr.

Morrison's mental state after a phone conversation and contacted his mother early that morning.

Mrs. Morrison found her son's car later in the morning and both women monitored the cove area throughout the day.

Both Ministries have been recommended for incorporation into a "superministry'' of Tourism, Transport and Telecommunications, likely to be headed by current Tourism Minister David Allen.

It is understood Premier Jennifer Smith could move during the Easter break to introduce some of the changes suggested in the review -- which also backed a cut in the number of Ministers from 13 to eight.

Another change suggested by the review team was a split in the dual role of the Cabinet Secretary -- who is head of the Civil Service as well as chief policy co-ordinator for Cabinet.

And one name tipped for a transfer to Cabinet Office is Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Stanley Oliver.

That could also mean Assistant Cabinet Secretary Robert Horton stepping up and current Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills stepping down or accepting a more limited role.

Under the review recommendations, drawn up by UK Civil Service experts, the Works and Engineering Ministry, at present headed by Alex Scott, would disappear.

Public Works would be taken over by the Environment Minister, currently Arthur Hodgson -- rated as a high-flier by the public and Cabinet colleagues and liable to be retained in a smaller Cabinet.

Government Information Services were yesterday unable to obtain comment from Cabinet Office.