The former husband of television presenter Trinny Woodall - said to be a member of a so-called "ring of death" targeted by the Russian mafia - was depressed because he had made some "terrible investments in oil" shortly before he plunged to his death from a rooftop carpark, an inquest heard.

Johnny Elichaoff, 55, died after falling from Whiteleys shopping centre in west London last November. He was one of a close-knit group of six men, which included wealthy tycoon Scot Young, alleged to have died in strange circumstances and friends expressed fears that they were all targeted by the Russian mafia.

But despite initial reports that his death had been accompanied by the sound of gunshots, a witness told Westminster Coroner's Court that she had seen Mr Elichaoff alone on the roof and had watched him deliberately "roll" himself off.

The inquest also heard that Mr Elichaoff, who was addicted to prescription drugs, had "repeatedly" visited the shopping centre in the fortnight before his death, apparently intending to make the 50-foot jump.

Two weeks previously, he had been briefly sectioned by police under the Mental Health Act after being found at the same location.

PC Jonathan Fenton said in a statement that on that occasion, he had driven Mr Elichaoff to a mental health unit, where the former musician and entrepreneur had told him: "I'm depressed because I've lost a lot of money through some terrible investments in oil.

"I've lost everything and I don't know what to do. I feel stupid now that I wanted to kill myself. I've got nothing left."

He was released from the hospital, but on November 12 returned to the scene and threw himself from the building.

Witness Shpresa Vitia said she had driven to the shopping centre that day to meet her mother and spotted Mr Elichaoff sitting alone on the ledge of the car park, having climbed over the barrier.

"Although this seemed very strange, it seemed he knew exactly what he was doing," she told the court. "He seemed very coordinated and was positioning himself."

Ms Vitia said she took "baby steps" towards him and asked if he was OK and if he needed anything. By this time, he had laid down on the ledge and, without looking at her, said he was "fine and was just having a rest".

"He spoke with a very reassuring voice. I don't think he wanted me to panic," she added.

Ms Vitia said there were two men walking across the car park, but they did not see her and she did not want to shout out in case it "affected the situation".

She turned towards the shopping centre, but kept looking back and eventually, she said he just "rolled off".

"I saw him right in front of my eyes," she added. "It was deliberate."

Police officers and paramedics called to the scene said initial reports suggested that someone had been shot but, that the theory was soon dismissed.

A toxicology report found that the businessman, from Notting Hill, west London, had high levels of several painkillers in his system. It concluded that his death was caused by multiple traumatic injuries with multiple drug use as a contributing factor.

The former drummer was married to Ms Woodall, a television presenter, for 10 years and is the father of her 12–year-old daughter, Lyla.

"He had a heart attack in his head and he could no longer find the strength to deal with his physical and emotional pain" Trinny Woodall

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