Can we talk about Katie Simpson?

[norma1980]

• Groomed from the age of 10 by her much older brother in law
• Brother in law who had a conviction for strangling a woman.
• brother in law welcomed back with open arms into show jumping/horse set on his release from jail
• isolated Katie from her family. She was terrified of him. Katie lived with him and her sister.
• when he found out she had a boyfriend he raped and beat her to death.
• presented it as suicide.
• Katie was in a coma for a week. During this time a nurse and Katie's family raised concerns with police about her injuries not being consistent with hanging. Vaginal bleeding, lack of lesions on neck, injuries which looked like she'd been beaten with a rod.
• police ignored them. Failed to record injuries.

The brother in law, Jonathan Creswell was well to do and charming. He couldn't possibly be involved in the eyes of the police. -they failed to look into his history where they would've seen he had been convicted of a similar crime. -Katie didn't matter to the police.

• matter only investigated when file moves to a different police force.
• brother in law commits suicide 2 days into trial.

Katie was failed from day 1. She didn't matter to the police. Heartbreaking story.

The police handling of Katie Simpson's case brings to mind Noah Donohue's case.
What is going on ?
I see Donald Mc Intyre is investigating the case.

It's an absolutely horrific crime and then the utter fuck up and disregard of the PSNI. At some point you would think someone needs to be held accountable but I'd lay money on it that the PSNI will just keep on stalling, exactly what they're doing regarding Noah Donohue. I believe there's a number of people in the police who know what happened to Noah and it's being covered up. Police in NI still seems to be hugely lacking in transparency.

"Is there a sectarian angle ?"

Probably not, Simpson is a Protestant name and Katie was buried in a Protestant graveyard. I think the killer and the three women convicted of offences related to the cover up are also Protestant.

https://m.sundayworld.com/crime/courts/cops-wanted-to-charge-fourth-woman-with-cover-up-in-katie-simpson-murder/a1833267326.html

If the fourth woman is who I think it is, then it is probably for the best that she wasn't charged...but it might be a bit more understandable how the cops got the wool pulled over their eyes (they should still have wised up a bit quicker when hospital staff raised concerns mind you) and also explains the lack of transparency in explaining all the details.

I wondered too about the 4th woman and think I know who it must be.
How were 6 women (at least)
Katie
Hayley
Jill
Rose
4th woman
Abigail - the woman he threatened to kill by putting her into a bath of bleach
in thrall to this awful man ?
Baffling.
And tragic for Katie and those who loved her.

@powershowerforanhour no idea if sectarian angle but I think Katie was from a mixed marriage. Her mother and her mother's family were catholic albeit Katie was raised Protestant.

I'm just coming to the end of a series on BBC sounds about this case. I have questions about the sister, which is what led me to this thread. The whole thing is awful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0025qtn?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

I don’t understand how the sister didn’t know or question - she saw him in bed with her younger sister. - I wouldn’t of just gone to work I’d of played holy hell

I agree.
What was her sister thinking ?
What was her mother thinking ?
Just a really weird situation.

Her sister was being coercively controlled as were the other women - he was an utter monster.

Just finished the Sky Documentary about this. I'm glad a couple of the women spoke but I am so mad about her sister. Katie was failed, terribly, by some of her family and by the police as well. Abigail Lyle was very brave.

An independent review of the case by led by Dr Jan Melia cites institutional misogyny led to clear warning signs being missed and systemic failings in the police led to their decision to treat it as a suicide.
The initial investigative officers “….demonstrated a striking lack of professional curiosity, failed to employ an investigative mindset or consider the possibility of abuse/control, in spite of clear warning signs.”
The police officers failed to identify inconsistencies in Cresswell’s account, they neglected to preserve vital evidence, overlooked forensic scenes and opportunities, dismissed key witness statements and failed to secure/examine crucial digital communications such as text messages and phone records that might have revealed patterns of abuse.

The officers involved- have any of them spoken out ?
Apologised for their actions ?
Do they care ?
Will this misogyny be stamped out ?

From a BBC online article

"The report said 37 other victims, including children as young as nine, had come forward to disclose abuse by Creswell.
Some of those reports involved allegations of sexual and physical abuse."

"Two other alleged sex offenders have also been identified by the PSNI within the equestrian industry as part of this review.
The report said it was "apparent that Jonathan Creswell may have associated with known sex offenders".
It said it "also became apparent that there may be known individuals, currently operating with the equestrian world". "

I’ve been the victim of PSNI institutional misogyny, albeit in very different circumstances. Yes, it exists and is endemic. The comments from Dr Jan Melia are very insightful about male narratives being privileged, shaping who and what is believed. My circumstances were different, but it was absolutely the same misogynistic attitudes on display. There were some very brave internal whistleblowers from within the PSNI who were bullied out for speaking up about the failings in the initial response in Katie’s murder. One potential angle which I don’t believe has been explored is Masonic connections. CID in Derry is renowned for being very Masonic.

Sorry to hear you have been the victim of PSNI institutional misogyny @NigellaAwesome
Sorry yoo to hear that there were very brave internal whistleblowers from within the PSNI who were bullied out for speaking up about the failings in the initial response to Katie’s murder.
Interesting you mention Masonic connections.

On a completely separate note, was Katie’s sister aware that her husband was having a sexual relationship with Katie while she was living with them and their children ?
Was her mother aware she was in a relationship with her bil, Jonathan Creswell.
Has his family ever commented ?

"One potential angle which I don’t believe has been explored is Masonic connections. CID in Derry is renowned for being very Masonic."

Hmm very interesting indeed. Very. I do wonder about the influence of the Masons (and the Orange- there's a good bit of Venn diagram overlap there) in this country. Dad was asked to join and mum was dead against it, DH has been asked and said no. It's a just a bit too pally and conflict of interesty in a lot of ways.