High-profile Wellington real estate agent Margo McAuley killed herself while "very much under stress" from the breakdown of her marriage, a coroner ruled yesterday. Ian Smith said that although Ms McAuley had a "dangerous" level of the prescription sleeping pill zopiclone in her system when she took her life, it was unlikely to have contributed to her death.

Ms McAuley, 42, was found dead by her husband, Kim MacIntyre, at her Miramar home on October 29, 2008, a day after he told her he was ending the relationship. She believed he was leaving her for another woman.

Mr MacIntyre married Families Commissioner Christine Rankin about two months later - Ms Rankin publicly denied having an affair with Mr MacIntyre at the time of Ms McAuley's death.

Mr Smith said there were aspects of the suicide that raised concerns about zopiclone, a hypnotic and sedative drug used to treat transient, short-term and chronic insomnia. Ms McAuley had been taking the pills since 2005, and her dose increased over time, reaching up to four pills a night.

Evidence from a forensic scientist showed that, at the time of her death, Ms McAuley had a level of zopiclone in her system similar to cases of overdoses.