Katie Simpson: Serious questions for PSNI over investigation into showjumper’s death

A POLICING Board member has said she has “serious questions” for police surrounding the investigation into the death of showjumper Katie Simpson.

Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister was speaking as details emerged about the violent background of Jonathan Creswell, the man accused of the 21-year-old’s rape and murder.

Ms Simpson died almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, on 3 August 2020.

She was found at a house she shared with Creswell (36) , who had denied the charges, and her sister with who he was in a relationship with.

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The 21-year-old, who was from the village of Tynan in Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Hospital six days later, having never regained consciousness.

Creswell was found dead at his home on Wednesday a day after his trial got under way. He had been out on bail.

It has since emerged he had previously been jailed for six months in 2010 after pleading guilty to assaulting another young showjumper Abi Lyle.

She described on assault as like being in “a horror movie”.

The Police Ombudsman is still awaiting a response from the PSNI about the investigation into Ms Simpson’s death.

Prosecutors had claimed Creswell attacked Ms Simpson, with whom he he previously had sexual relations, after she met someone else.

They claim he attempted to cover-up the alleged murder by claiming she died by suicide.

The Police Ombudsman launched a probe in 2021 after receiving complaints about the police investigation.

The police watchdog subsequently submitted a misconduct file to the Professional Standards Department of the PSNI in April 2023 about the conduct of a number of police officers.

It is understood the Police Ombudsman is still awaiting the outcome of its recommendations to the PSNI.

Ms McAllister is planning to raise the issue at a Policing Board meeting next week.

She said she has made disclosures to the Police Ombudsman about the case.

The North Belfast representative said the issues she has brought to the attention of the ombudsman “raise a lot of questions as to why Katie’s murder was treated as a suicide for the first few months”.

“It is very, very frightening to know that this took place in society, and it was quite obviously a murder and the police did not treat it as such and I think that we need to get to the bottom of this,” she said.

Meanwhile Joanne Barnes, CEO of Nexus, a charity which supports people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships, said:

“This week all of our thoughts are with Katie’s family and friends. While nothing will bring Katie back, the hope of getting justice for her has now also been taken away.

“This will only be compounded by the fact that her family have been waiting almost four years for this trial to begin and this speaks to the need for system reform for this and many other families across Northern Ireland.

" It is simply not good enough that families have to endure this.

" It is now of the upmost importance that the PSNI consider the ombudsman’s findings on the handling of this case and share the learnings with Katie’s family to give them some element of closure as they unfortunately will not receive that now through a criminal trial.

“This and urgent action on justice system reform, will give assurance to other victims, survivours, and families, that when they report or when a crime occurs it will be handled appropriately by PSNI and the rest of the Justice System.”