The distressing circumstances around the murder of showjumper Katie Simpson have taken a further twist with confirmation that police officers “committed misconduct” in the early stages of the investigation into her death.
Chief constable Jon Boutcher made the admission during yesterday’s meeting of the Policing Board, where he was questioned about a case which has raised profound questions about violence against women and girls.
Ms Simpson died in hospital six days after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, just outside Derry, on August 3 2020.
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The 21-year-old from Tynan in Co Armagh did not regain consciousness and her death was initially treated as suicide by the PSNI.
It wasn’t until January 2021 that Jonathan Creswell was identified as a suspect in Ms Simpson’s murder. He was eventually arrested and prosecuted in March 2021.
The delays inherent in our justice system meant that his trial only opened last week, with a prosecution lawyer telling the jury that Creswell had raped, strangled and killed Ms Simpson. But the trial ended abruptly the day after it started following Creswell’s own sudden death at home while on bail. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Mr Boutcher told the Policing Board that the length of time between Ms Simpson being admitted to hospital and her death would have eroded forensic opportunities.
“It becomes harder to understand causes of death,” he said, adding: “In effect, due to people raising concerns about Creswell and his behaviour, between August and December there were a number of concerns which led to a reassessment of what had happened.”
Jonathan Creswell had a history of violence against women and in that context it will strike many that the police were too ready to accept that Ms Simpson’s death was not at least suspicious
Why it took so long to reach this “reassessment” remains worryingly unclear.
The Police Ombudsman launched an investigation into the case in 2021 after receiving complaints about the PSNI investigation.
Mr Boutcher told the board that the ombudsman has identified officers as having committed misconduct, which he said was neither gross misconduct nor criminal. The ranks of the officers involved has not yet been disclosed, and Mr Boutcher says a “misconduct process” is now underway.
The chief constable is correct when he says the PSNI needs to learn from this dreadful case. Creswell had a history of violence against women and in that context it will strike many that the police were too ready to accept that Ms Simpson’s death was not at least suspicious.
Mr Boutcher says the PSNI will do all it can “with regard to violence against women and girls”. Similar sentiments have been expressed by senior police officers before, however.
To help restore public confidence it is essential that the chief constable urgently explains why it took so long for a murder to be treated as such. It is the least that Ms Simpson’s memory deserves.
