Katie Simpson’s family sues police over botched murder investigation – The Irish News

The family of show jumper Katie Simpson are to sue the PSNI over a botched investigation into her suspected murder.

The 21-year-old died in hospital six days after she was attacked at her home near Derry in August 2020.

Initially treated by the police as a suicide, her death was later ruled a murder.

Jonathan Creswell, a former jockey, took his own life after the first day of his murder and rape trial in April.

Prosecutors argued that Cresswell tried to cover up the suspicion of Ms. Simpson’s murder by claiming that she had tried to take her own life.

The case was shrouded in controversy over the PSNI’s approach in the early stages of the investigation.

A total of four separate reports were made to police, urging them to investigate the case first for assault and murder following her death.

Medical staff also raised concerns about the nature of Ms Simpson’s injuries.

Police also knew that Creswell had served six months in prison for strangling and threatening an ex-girlfriend.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has already admitted failings in the early stages of the investigation.

Attorney Kevin Winters of KRW Law said he was instructed by “a number of close relatives,” including Ms. Simpson’s parents, to take legal action “in relation to police failures during the initial stages of the investigation.”

“Many of them have been seriously traumatized by the results of investigators’ seriously flawed theory of suicide,” he said.

“They will sue the PSNI for negligence.”

Concerns were also raised about delays by the Police Ombudsman in publishing a report into Ms Simpson’s death.

Winters said the decision by Ms Simpson’s family to take legal action was not an easy one.

“The decision was not made lightly, as it was before the PONI (Police Ombudsman) report into the PSNI’s handling of the case,” he said.

“The findings of PONI (Police Ombudsman) are expected to be critical of the early stages of the investigation.”

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “The response from Police Northern Ireland will remain the same to any questions relating to legal matters relating to this case.

“We will not comment while legal and other proceedings are ongoing.”