JURORS will resume their deliberations on Friday morning at an inquest into the death of a York woman in police custody.

The jury at the inquest of Toni Speck could not reach a verdict by 4.30pm on Wednesday, or throughout Thursday.

York’s senior acting coroner Jonathan Leach has asked jurors to answer ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘cannot say’ to four questions regarding the evidence they have heard.

The start to Thursday's proceedings was delayed as a male juror said he could not attend due to being unwell.

Mr Leach decided to discharge the man, reducing the jury to 10 - four women and six men.

Mr Leach said: "I'm conscious that at least two members of the jury have not been in the best of health during this inquest. They have managed to attend.

"I don't think it's fair to the remaining jurors to adjourn. On that basis I propose that we discharge this juror and continue."

Mr Leach added: "If after a period tomorrow [Friday], say an hour or so, they still have not reached an agreement, then I would allow the jury a majority verdict."

The jury must also decide on the cause of Ms Speck’s death, which doctors say was one of two rare conditions - excited delirium or serotonin syndrome.

Mr Leach stressed that the jury must not discuss the case with anyone else and ignore publicity surrounding it.

He added: “My advice is to set the case aside to see if you can come back refreshed in the morning.”

The coroner had earlier summarised the evidence heard over two and a half weeks at York’s Guildhall.

He said: “Your findings must be solely based on the evidence that you have heard in court.

“It’s not a trial, but a fact finding inquiry to find how Toni died.”

Mr Leach reminded jurors of the events that saw Ms Speck detained by police under the Mental Health Act in Bootham, York on June 2, 2011.

The 31-year-old, who suffered from bipolar affective disorder, was taken to Fulford Road Police Station - York’s then place of safety for mental health detainees - at 3pm.

Ms Speck died at 6.48pm at York Hospital, having suffered a cardiac arrest at the police station at around 6pm.

Mr Leach’s summary included the evidence of expert witness Peter Burdett-Smith, a consultant in emergency medicine.

He said: “It was his view that if Toni arrived at the hospital by 4pm that she would certainly have survived.

“He also said that if Toni had arrived at the hospital at 5.30pm or afterwards that she would not have survived.

“There would have been a gradual reduction in the chances of Toni surviving. The tipping point was effectively arriving at hospital by 4.45pm.”

Regarding Sgt Donna Musgrove, one of two police officers to detain Ms Speck, Mr Leach said: “She would have taken her to accident and emergency if she felt that there was a need to do so.”

The other officer, PC Rob Milliner, had “felt that Toni’s behaviour was the most difficult he had come across”.

Custody sergeant Paul Armstrong had said: “If there was any suggestion that the health of detained person was in danger, I would have called an ambulance.”

The jury was also reminded that there had been a “rapid deterioration” in Ms Speck’s condition before 6pm and she was sweating heavily.