Girlfriend Blamed in INXS Suicide

LONDON (AP) â€” Family members of INXS singer Michael Hutchence say his late girlfriend, British television personality Paula Yates, was a main factor in his suicide. <br><br>The singer's mother, Patricia

Monday, October 30th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) â€” Family members of INXS singer Michael Hutchence say his late girlfriend, British television personality Paula Yates, was a main factor in his suicide.

The singer's mother, Patricia Glassop, and half-sister, Tina Hutchence, told a British talk show Monday that they have written a book that will claim Yates drove the pop star into a deep depression.

Hutchence, 38, hanged himself in a Sydney hotel room in November 1997. He had been Yates' live-in boyfriend for the previous 2 1/2 years.

Yates, 40, was found dead in her London home after an apparent drug overdose in September.

Tina Hutchence claimed that Yates â€” apparently upset at Michael Hutchence's refusal to get married â€” once threatened to kill herself and their daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, now 4.

``He became terribly depressed and withdrawn,'' the singer's half-sister said. ``For the last 2 1/2 years of his life, he was a very unhappy person and he got worse and worse.''

INXS's hits included ``Devil Inside,'' ``New Sensation'' and ``Never Tear Us Apart.''