Latest news with #Coroner'sCourt
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Musician stabbed in the chest on street by mentally-ill girl, 14, who ‘slept with knife under her pillow', inquest hears
A TALENTED musician died after being stabbed in his chest by a mentally-ill teenage girl who slept with a knife under her pillow, an inquest has heard. Nimroy Hendricks, 24, was chased down a street and fatally stabbed by the 14-year-old girl in West Sussex in 2020. He collapsed on the road and was later pronounced dead at the scene, despite the best efforts of paramedics to save his life. The teenager - who was known to be vulnerable and was on a Child Protection Plan - had been flagged as posing a "high risk", often "carrying a knife" around with her. Eight months before attacking Nimroy, the girl - who can only be identified as Child A because of court-imposed reporting restrictions - had stabbed her mother in the leg, tried to burn down her building and assaulted police officers. Frederick Powell, the barrister representing Nimroys' relatives, told West Sussex Coroner's Court that the teen had "been known to carry knives and on occasions slept with a knife under her pillow". Read More on UK News Child A lived with her mum at the property in West Sussex, with the family having recently moved from Birmingham. Just four days before the fatal attack, Child A had gone missing from the home. Although police were able to find her, she was unable to return home as her mum was away in London. However, instead of placing her into protective custody, she was instead allowed to stay with a woman who claimed to be her "cousin". Most read in The Sun The woman was not a relative and was in-fact known to police as she had criminal convictions and was a known drug user. Coroner Penelope Schofield said cops had failed to verify whether the woman was a relative of the teenager - instead leaving Child A on the side of the road at 2am with a stranger. She said: 'The police did not physically attend the address given to them and therefore did not realise this person was not a relative.' Ms Schofield also said social services had failed to hold an emergency strategy meeting which had been organised when the child went missing. She said that as a result 'There was no opportunity to put in place additional safeguarding measures. It is possible that had these matters been addressed, the perpetrator may not have been in a position to carry out the act which led to Mr Hendrick's death.' The coroner also ruled that failings by Sussex Police and social services at West Sussex County Council may have contributed to the death of the 'peaceful and loving' musician. The inquest heard that Child A's mum had told an earlier investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct that she had been advised by social services to stay away. Mr Powell said "because the threat to him [Nimroy] was never properly assessed, he was never told he shouldn't go to the property". Nimroy, who was in a relationship with the girl's mum, had gone to the flat to collect work tools when he found the interior had been "annihilated", following an outburst by the teen. After finding the flat in disarray, he angrily banged on the girl's bedroom door. He then left the home and was making his way towards a nearby train station when the girl chased him down the street, confronting him. She then stabbed him once in the chest, telling a bystander: "I've stabbed Nim," as she calmly walked away. Child A - who had a long criminal record - was then arrested by police and later judged to be suffering form a "significant abnormality of mind". 'THE POLICE AND AUTHORITIES FAILED' Speaking after the inquest his parents Nimroy Hendricks Snr and Lisa Hendricks said their son had been failed but they were relieved by the coroner's findings. Lisa said: 'Nim should never have been put in the position he was. The authorities were well aware of the risk posed by the child.' She said the impact on the family had been shattered by his death and accused the police and social services of trying to cover up their errors. Mr Hendricks said: 'The police and authorities failed, they failed in every sense of the word.' The inquest in Horsham, West Sussex, heard the 14-year-old girl had a history of violence and suffered from mental health problems. She had been diagnosed with PTSD and a split personality disorder, had a criminal record and had previously attacked police. The hearing was told the girl had suffered a 'turbulent' childhood and had been the repeated victim of sexual assault, sex abuse and child sexual exploitation which had compounded her mental health condition. Mr Powell said Nim had never been told the risk of violence from the girl. He said: 'Nim was overlooked. He was never told of the risk this child posed. He was in a blindspot due to the failure of examining what was known.' Paying tribute to her son, his mum Lisa said Nim was a hugely loving child and man and a talented musician. She said: 'He was a leader and a performer. He loved books and reading. He was confident, happy and inquisitive. 'He was a joy to us. He loved the environment, the mountains and being close to the sea.' 1 Nimroy Hendricks, 24, died after being stabbed in the chest by Child A Credit: Sussex Police
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Killer child 'slept with a knife under her pillow'
An inquest into the death of a man in West Sussex has been told that the girl who killed him had slept with a knife under her pillow. Nimroy Hendricks, 24, was found in Russell Way, Three Bridges, Crawley, in October 2020, with a stab wound to the chest, hours after she had threatened to stab her mother in the neck. Eight months before the attack, the 14-year-old, who cannot be identified because of her age, had stabbed her mother in the leg and tried to burn down her house. Frederick Powell, a barrister representing Mr Hendricks' parents, told West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Coroner's Court the teen had "been known to carry knives and on occasions slept with a knife under her pillow". The court heard from a police officer, the girl's integrated offender manager, who said she believed this was a "one off". The teenager, referred to in court as Child A, had been missing for four days before she was found by police officers. Her mother, who was staying in London, had asked police to take her daughter to a safe place if she was found. Officers instead left the teenager with a woman, who claimed to be her cousin and had a criminal record, despite the girl having no known relatives in the area. Just hours later she killed Mr Hendricks. Det Con David Symonds, who had left the girl with the older woman, was asked by Mr Powell: "Given you understood she had no family in the area, why did you then choose to believe Child A at 02:15 in the morning?" The officer responded: "I had no reason to doubt her." Asked by coroner Penelope Schofield if there was a way for police to check if people are related to each other, Mr Symonds said: "The only way is if someone manually puts that in the police systems." The inquest continues. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Social services had concerns for killer child Teenager in fatal stabbing known to pose a risk Girl, 15, admits stabbing man to death HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Perth Now
Cop who shot Indigenous teen ‘racist': coroner
WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died. An Alice Springs constable who fatally shot an Indigenous teenager in 2019 was racist and worked in a racist police station, the coroner says. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has spent three years investigating the life of Kumanjayi Walker and the events surrounding the 19-year-old's death. Constable Zachary Rolfe shot Mr Walker after the officer was stabbed. The coroner presented her findings to the community of Yuendumu, 300km northwest of Alice Springs, on Monday, 'Having considered all the evidence including Mr Rolfe's explanations and justifications, I found that Mr Rolfe was racist and that he worked in and was the beneficiary of an organisation with hallmarks of institutional racism,' Ms Armitage said. Kumanjayi Walker died aged 19 in the remote Indigenous community of Yuendumu. Credit: Supplied 'I am satisfied that there is a significant risk that his racism, in combination with some of his other attitudes and values, affected his interactions with the community of Yuendumu on 9 November 2019. 'While it was not possible for me to say with certainty that Mr Rolfe's racist attitudes were operative in his decisions on 9 November or were a contributing cause of Kumanjayi's death, I cannot exclude that possibility.' Mr Walker was fatally shot by the then NT police constable during an attempted arrest at Yuendumu in 2019. Mr Walker stabbed the constable in the shoulder with a pair of scissors; Mr Rolfe shot Mr Walker three times. Mr Rolfe was acquitted by a jury of murder, manslaughter, and engaging in a violent act causing death in the NT Supreme Court in 2022. Mr Rolfe then publicly criticised the NT Police Force and the Coroner's Court and was sacked from the police. Zach Rolfe was acquitted at a criminal trial. Jason Walls Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Walker died in custody, so a mandatory coronial inquest was undertaken. The inquiry ran for 66 hearing days, with 70 witnesses, during the course of three years. The inquest has revealed evidence of systemic racism within the NT Police, sparked an ICAC investigation into the Territory Response Group, an NT police internal anti-racism review, and an apology from the then NT Police Commissioner to Aboriginal Territorians. The release of the coroner's report was delayed following the death in custody of another Yuendumu man, Kumanjayi White, 24, inside a Coles in Alice Springs. More to come
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Woman, 21, killed in 90mph horror crash on way back from Winter Wonderland as her boyfriend begged drink-driver to stop
Driver being chased by cops when he smashed into tree DEATH SMASH Woman, 21, killed in 90mph horror crash on way back from Winter Wonderland as her boyfriend begged drink-driver to stop A WOMAN was killed in a 90mph crash on her way back from Winter Wonderland by her drink-driving pal, an inquest heard. Lillie Clack, 21, was squeezed into Charlie Hilton's Mercedes with four other passengers as they drove home on Christmas Day 2021. 4 Lillie Clark was killed on her way home from Winter Wonderland Credit: PA The friends had been at Winter Wonderland and visited a pub in Morden before accepting a lift home from Hilton. Hilton, 25, was chased by police before he smashed into a tree and flipped the car in Carshalton, South London. The Mercedes erupted into flames as horrified locals rushed out their homes in the early hours with fire extinguishers. South London Coroner's Court heard Lillie suffered catastrophic injuries in the horror and was declared dead three days later. Her boyfriend Jack Watson was among those who were badly hurt. He told the inquest how he had begged Hilton to slow down and let him and Lillie out of the car but was just told the shut up. Jack said: "I think I might have said 'Charlie what are you doing, why are you going so fast'. "I think the girls were in shock." Jack said he could not recall the details of the chase but remembered Hilton running a red light before the crash. He said he remembered then being pulled from the car on a stretcher and bleeding from his lip. Jack added: "I remember asking 'where's Lillie?'. I remember being in an ambulance and blood on my jacket but I do not know where the blood came from. "My clothing was cut off from me - and I knew then that it was bad." Lillie's best friend Delia Casey, who was also injured in the crash, said "at no point did Charlie appear drunk to me". She continued: "Everyone was shouting inside the car. There was a lot going on and I was just feeling very fearful for everyone in the car. The speed we were going at made me feel terrified. "It feels like I was only in there for a few seconds. It feels like a blur. "Even after I visited Lillie's tree I still have no memory of the accident." Hilton was jailed for ten years and six months in February 2023 after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit. Hilton had 11 previous convictions, including for motoring offences, and had previously been jailed for 10 months for possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance. Lillie's family are now campaigning for 'Lillie's Law' that will ban killer drivers from getting behind the wheel again. It comes after Hilton kept his driving licence before he was eventually charged with causing Lillie's death a year after the crash. Her mum Debbie previously told The Sun Online: "I spent the first year wondering why. My thoughts were everywhere. "I have now spent the second year in total disbelief of the justice system. "I am angry now. I am very angry at Lillie's killer. Lillie didn't have to die. All he had to do was stop that car." The inquest into Lillie's death continues. 4 Lillie was one of five passengers crammed into the car 4 Her boyfriend had begged the driver to slow down
Leader Live
18-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Grandmother dies from rabies after ‘very slight scratch' from puppy in Morocco
Yvonne Ford's family said she only became ill two weeks ago, starting with a headache and resulting in her becoming unable to walk, talk, sleep or swallow. Ms Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died in Sheffield on June 11 aged 59, according to Sheffield Coroner's Court, where an inquest was opened and adjourned on Wednesday morning. Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed she was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital. A Facebook post which her daughter Robyn Thomson made to raise awareness said: 'Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others. 'Yvonne Ford, Ron Ford's wife and our Mum, died of rabies. 'She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. 'At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it. 'Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. 'Resulting in her passing.' A person from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a dog abroad. There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case.📰🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 18, 2025 Ms Thomson shared information about rabies, including that it is preventable through prompt medical care after exposure. She added: 'We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love. Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there is no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be passed between people. However, as a precautionary measure it is assessing health workers and close contacts to offer vaccination where necessary. Rabies is a deadly virus spread through the saliva of infected animals, and people usually get it after being bitten by an infected animal. Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in developing countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people. Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. If you're travelling to a country where rabies is present, it's worth knowing how to reduce your risk – read our blog post for more info.🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 18, 2025 The first symptoms of rabies can be similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva. People may develop fears around things like swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, at the UKHSA, said: 'I would like to extend my condolences to this individual's family at this time. 'If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies. 'There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. 'Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.' According to the UKHSA, rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. There have been no human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats reported since 1902. Between 2000 and 2024, there were six cases of rabies reported in the UK linked to people being exposed abroad. Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa. Travellers are being advised by the UKHSA to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals and check whether they may need a rabies vaccine prior to travel.
