Mrs Brimble died from toxic levels of the drug GHB and alcohol, a pathologist had found. "Dianne Brimble was unknowingly drugged by unscrupulous individuals who were intent on denigrating her for their own sexual gratification." While three men have been sentenced in NSW courts on charges arising from the case – but not over her death – on the basis that Mrs Brimble had willingly taken the drug and engaged in sexual activity with to men, the coroner has rejected that version of events. She said she found the versions of some of the persons of interest from Adelaide not credible, and chose instead to believe the family and friends who have described Mrs Brimble as a modest, almost naive woman who was shy about her body and about sex. The coroner also said she preferred the evidence of a security guard, Peter Hawthorne, who said he had seen Mrs Brimble stagger when she left the disco shortly after 4am that morning.

Mrs Milledge criticised P&O's purser Melvyn Armitage for allowing the men access to their cabin shortly after Mrs Brimble was found dead, allowing them to remove evidence of the events of the night. But she praised the actions of the cruise company in recent years in introducing improvements to security and its internal procedures. The reform of the industry was Dianne Brimble's legacy, she said. The inquest had heard that Mark Wilhelm had had sex with Mrs Brimble and that she later lay naked and unconscious on the floor of his cabin, having defecated, and a number of people saw her there and did not help. About 8.30am, Wilhelm called medical help after showering and dressing Mrs Brimble with another man, Leo Silvestri. But she could not be revived.

Mrs Milledge criticised Mr Wilhelm for failing to tell medical staff trying to revive Mrs Brimble of "callous disregard for her decency and her safety". Silvestri's behaviour after Mrs Brimble's death, and his comments to police in which he blamed her for ruining his holiday, caused outrage when they came to light during the inquest in 2006. Mrs Milledge also criticised the lack of police resources for the initial investigation and the lack of experience of the investigators. Mrs Milledge postponed until Friday making recommendations, which were expected to include national cruise industry reform. Today's findings come after the long-running inquest was resumed when the criminal proceedings had concluded.

Wilhelm was convicted of supplying a prohibited drug to Mrs Brimble. Silvestri and another man, Ryan Kuchel, were convicted for concealing a serious offence. Loading Initial charges of manslaughter against Wilhelm were withdrawn and no one has been found legally liable for Mrs Brimble's death. Geesche Jacobsen is the Herald's Crime Editor. She is the author of Abandoned; The Sad Death of Dianne Brimble.