Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Caroline: Agonyof hermum
Star’s mum rages at officer Verdict: Death was suicide
CAROLINE Flack’s distraught mum lashed out at police and prosecutors at her daughter’s inquest, telling them: “You had it in for Caroline.”
The Love Island presenter was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, North East London, on February 15, the day after she learned she was to stand trial accused of assaulting her boyfriend.
The coroner, who yesterday recorded a verdict of suicide, had heard how Ms Flack, 40, had admitted hitting Lewis Burton when Met police officers were called to her home in December 2019.
Naked and covered in blood with a self-imposed cut to her wrist, she had told police: “He was cheating on me.”
The Crown Prosecution Service initially wanted to issue a caution but decided to charge her with assault after an appeal from Det Insp Lauren Bateman, on duty at the time.
Speaking at the hearing in Poplar, East London, mum Christine Flack told Ms Bateman: “If it had been… an ordinary person, you wouldn’t have prosecuted. I just think you should be disgusted with yourself.
“There is nothing we can do to bring Caroline back. I hope in hindsight you do regret this. This girl killed herself because you put an appeal through.”
Ms Bateman denied the suggestion that she was motivated by Ms Flack’s celebrity status to charge her. She insisted: “I was not biased and I treat everyone the same.”
The inquest heard how prosecutor Kate Weiss had reviewed the decision to charge Ms Flack and found a caution was not appropriate due to the violence involved and the fact that Mr Burton, 28, was asleep at the time.
She also cited Ms Flack’s apparent lack of remorse during her police interview, and said a caution was rare for a domestic violence case.
Ms Weiss wrote: “In light of these factors, I believe a caution is not appropriate.” Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor
Lisa Ramsarran said the code for prosecutors had been correctly applied.
Mrs Flack told Ms Ramsarran: “After listening to you and the first lady (Det Insp Bateman) I feel even more that you had it in for Caroline. I now know how Caroline felt and it is not very nice.”
The coroner Mary Hassell said the fact the alleged assault case had been “played out in the national press” had been “incredibly difficult” for Ms Flack, and she had feared the loss of her career.
Ms Hassell said: “Although her general fluctuating state was a background and important in her death, I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media.
“Press, publicity, it would all come down upon her. To me that’s it in essence.”
Weeping, Mrs Flack told the coroner by video link: “I totally agree, I think you got it spot on.”
She added: “We know you are not allowed to say certain things and it’s up to us if we want to take it any further, and we don’t. You’re spot on.”
She now knew she would be prosecuted for certainty.. it would all come down on her
MARY HASSELL CORONER AT CAROLINE FLACK’S INQUEST
EVERY parent will understand the heartbreak of Caroline Flack’s mother, Christine, at the loss of her daughter.
Hard lessons must be learned from the handling of this case because, at the very least, the vulnerable people under police investigation and facing criminal charges deserve more support to help avoid suicides.