Review must get answers after Louise’s murder

As Shane Mays starts a jail sentence of at least 25 years for murdering 16-yearold Louise Smith, the overriding emotion is one of great sadness at a young life lost. Louise had hoped to have children and was training to be a veterinary nurse. She had already picked out a bridesmaid dress for the wedding of her mother, Rebbecca Cooper, and Richard O’Shea and was looking forward to the big day.

But her life was cruelly ended when Mays struck her repeatedly in a clearing at Havant Thicket and defiled her before returning to the scene to burn her body.

A review is to be carried out into agencies’ involvement in Louise’s life and we trust it will get answers to some difficult questions.

How did Louise, who suffered from anxiety and depression, end up living with Mays and her aunt Chazlynn Mays in a one-bed flat in Leigh Park?

We’re told her social worker was aware of the arrangement, so presumably no official alarm bells were ringing.

Why not?

The day before Louise died, she messaged a mental health helpline, saying: ‘I can’t help it, I have started self-harming again, I can’t cope.’

We need the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership to get to the bottom of how such a vulnerable child came to be placed in the care of a man who ended up taking her life.

It is hard to imagine the pain of Louise’s family. They will never forgive Mays.

Her mother said: ‘This is any parent’s worst nightmare and now it’s my nightmare.’

Her father, Bradley Smith, added: ‘My family is in absolute turmoil and we will be for the rest of our lives.’

That Mays is now behind bars and will remain so for a considerable time is of little consolation. Because however long his sentence, it will not bring Louise back.