Following further investigation it has come to light that Jeff Rice, the American TV producer found dead in his hotel room in Uganda, died after ingesting contaminated cocaine and not as a result of being poisoned as was initially thought.

Brad Nathanson, a private investigator and friend of Rice, confirmed that he had seen the official toxicology report which showed that traces of cocaine were found in Rice’s blood and that there was no foul play involved.

“In fact it was as a result of buying bad drugs, cocaine to be specific … it was a bad concoction” 

The cocaine which he had used had lethal additives which caused his death, Uganda police spokesperson Asuman Mugenyi told Reuters.

“Rice, who was found slumped over a table bleeding through the nose and mouth, died of asphyxiation, a post mortem showed. Drug users who fall unconscious risk inhaling vomit.”

Rice’s assistant, who has been identified as Kathryne Fuller, was found in a coma on the same night. She has since regained consciousness but is paralysed down the right side of her body. Her father has committed himself to supporting her despite being “disappointed” and “sad”.

“We all do stupid things in life. Unfortunately this is a large mistake but we can’t exactly crucify her,” Stewart Fuller said.

The pair was found on 18 February in the Serana hotel, in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

Ugandan police have arrested a man who confessed to selling drugs to the American pair. Fuller may still face prosecution as drug use is illegal in Uganda and can carry a jail term.