Jewish Girl, 14, hangs herself in her home

Emily Weiss























A talented and popular pupil at a top private school is believed to have committed suicide after becoming depressed in the run-up to exams.

Emily Weiss, 14, was found unconscious in the garden of her £1million home after apparently hanging herself from a tree.

The night before her death, Emily, an aspiring actress, had sent text and Facebook messages wishing classmates good luck in their exams, the friend added.

The teenager then changed her status to Cellar Door, the title of a song about suicide by American ‘emo’ rock band Escape The Fate.

Its dark lyrics, typical of the genre, include: ‘Heard you calling from the hall / To find you in the bedroom not breathing at all / I drag your body to the cellar where we lay’.

Her grieving parents Warren, 46, a chartered accountant, and Sharon, 50, are active members of the Jewish community near their home in Mill Hill, North London.

Yesterday, they were being comforted by family, friends and their rabbi David Mason.

Since Emily’s death on Monday, more than 2,000 people have joined a Facebook group to pay tribute.They include many friends from her girls’ school, whose past pupils include actress Helena Bonham Carter and model Daisy Lowe.

The Facebook page is dedicated to ‘a truly amazing, and incredible girl, who took her own life and was taken from us far too early’.

It continues: ‘Here we can show our gratitude to have known and learnt from such an incredible, beautiful, perceptive and brave person. Both in her talents, her true compassion, and ability to bring out the best in others, she will be truly missed by all.

Emily Weiss was loved by so many people, and it will never falter or be forgotten. NEVER forget.’

One friend May Gabriel wrote: ‘I hope that the pain you were going through has stopped and that you are finally at peace.

You had so many people who cared and you touched everyone’s hearts that you met. You were an incredible person who had so much to give in life. Rest in peace.

Another friend, Talia Goldman, wrote: ‘She was so kind and gorgeous. One of the sweetest people I knew, always friendly, nice to be around, and great for sharing jokes with, at the cost of your brother. You’ll always be in my heart.’

Emily attended the Muswell Hill Synagogue with her family and a performing arts class at the nearby North Western Reform Synagogue.

Yesterday Rabbi Mark Goldsmith told the Mail: ‘The circle of people affected by

Emily’s tragic death has been huge, given her short life.

She was much loved in our acting academy, where just two weeks ago she was one of the dancers and singers in our production of Calamity Jane.

On the day we heard of her death, more than 80 people came here just to be together at the synagogue, united in a great sadness and to say prayers. Emily was a lively and active member of our drama school, and seemed to be an enthusiastic and optimistic teenager.

There was no sign that she wasn’t happy as this was a place she enjoyed coming to’.

Emily was also a fan of Doctor Who and ‘emo’ bands such as My Chemical Romance. Short for emotional, ‘emo’ is a confessional style of music with roots in punk and is seen as an off-shoot of the Goth culture.

Her headteacher Jenny Stephen said: ‘We are all devastated. It’s hard to understand the complexities of such a tragedy. Emily was a wonderful and talented girl who touched so many lives.

Police and ambulance crews were called to Emily’s home at 7am. A Met spokesman said: ‘We are not looking for anyone else.

An inquest is due to be opened and adjourned today at Barnet Coroner’s Court.