Detective rejects family claim over Gaia inquiry
A SENIOR detective has denied claims he told the family of missing teenager Gaia Pope-Sutherland that he took over the investigation because it had been badly run, an inquest heard.
Det Ch Insp Neil Devoto said in fact he had “no concerns” about the inquiry when he was appointed senior investigating officer five days after she was last seen alive.
The 19-year-old, who suffered from severe epilepsy, was reported missing from her home in Swanage, Dorset, on November 7, 2017.
Dorset Coroner’s Court heard Mr
Devoto was appointed to lead the investigation on November 12 after it was classified as a homicide and handed to officers from the major crime investigation team.
At the request of the Pope-Sutherland family, Mr Devoto met with them on November 17 to discuss the investigation.
Richard Sutherland had previously told the inquest that during the meeting the detective told him he had taken over because he was “not happy” with the way the inquiry was being run.
Sarah Clarke QC, counsel to the inquest, asked Mr Devoto about Mr Sutherland’s comments.
He replied: “Those comments were not said, and I had no concerns about the investigation.”
Miss Clarke asked: “As far as you’re concerned, that wasn’t said?” “Absolutely not,” he replied.
“(The purpose of the meeting was to) update Mr Sutherland on the investigation and he had a number of questions that he wanted answered.
“Mr Sutherland was very polite, very calm and the information I gave I felt he was acknowledging it and that he appreciated it and after the meeting we shook hands, and I didn’t feel there were any issues.”
The teenager’s father had suggested Mr Devoto was “hostile” at the meeting, which the officer also rejected. Mr Devoto explained that Mr Sutherland had been accompanied by two other people, one of whom became “very loud and very aggressive”.
The body of the student was found, following a large search, in undergrowth between Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point on November 18.
The inquest continues.