FLACK FEARED A ‘SHOW TRIAL’
TV star terrified about police bodycam film of her She had warned officers she would take her own life Did 999 crew go to her flat the day before tragedy?
TROUBLED star Caroline Flack had warned police she would take her own life, it emerged last night.
The 40-year-old was taking antidepressants as she battled mental health problems and was terrified of the prospect of her upcoming trial.
It was claimed yesterday paramedics had been sent to her home the day before she was found dead, following fears for her welfare, but she was not taken to hospital.
The distraught TV presenter was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a ‘show trial’ over an alleged assault on her boyfriend and was worried she could not cope with the fallout.
Friends said she was tormented over the idea of a jury being shown police ‘body cam’ footage taken during the night she
was accused of attacking Lewis Burton, 27. She had hope the trial would not go ahead.
A court had heard police found the pair covered in blood and that Miss Flack had cuts to her wrist. The revelations about her mental health prompted questions about whether she was given enough help to tackle her depression and panic attacks.
Police last night refused to reveal if they had referred the star to mental health services. As stars paid tribute to the Love Island presenter, friends asked if prosecutors, medical professionals and her former bosses at ITV had missed chances to save her.
ITV cancelled scheduled Love Island episodes over the weekend but said the show would return tonight with a tribute to Miss Flack, who presented five series before stepping back following her arrest. In other developments:
■ Miss Flack’s management called the case against her a ‘show trial’ without merit;
■ Mr Burton raged against a court ban which had kept him and Miss Flack apart;
■ Fellow TV presenter Laura Whitmore warned of the pressures faced by those in the public eye, saying: ‘It’s gone too far’;
■ Government minister Grant Shapps said broadcasters owed a duty of care to reality show contestants and presenters.
Miss Flack died at her home in Stoke Newington, east London, on Saturday.
Her death is understood to have come just hours after she learned prosecutors had ruled she would face trial over Mr Burton’s alleged assault in December.
Her management team said the Crown Prosecution Service knew she was ‘vulnerable’ and condemned the decision to go ahead with her trial next month. Mr Burton, who made the original 999 call to report the assault, later said he did not want her to face charges.
Miss Flack was found ‘unresponsive’ inside her flat on Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics were previously called to the road on Friday night. London
Ambulance Service said: ‘Crews attended and, following a clinical assessment, the person was not taken to hospital.’
Friends said Miss Flack had become ‘fixated’ by the prospect that police video footage of her arrest would be made public.
A court hearing was told Mr Burton dialled 999 at 5.25am on December 12 and said he was being assaulted by Miss Flack. He told police she had read text messages on his phone and thought he was cheating on her, and had attacked him while he was asleep.
At a hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in North London last year, prosecutors said police found the couple covered in blood and said Miss Flack had two cuts to her left wrist after smashing a glass.
Officers were forced to restrain her, they said, and when she was cautioned, she told police she would kill herself, the court heard.
Her lawyer Paul Morris said Mr Burton disputed the CPS’s account and did not want her to be prosecuted.
An ITV insider insisted it had maintained contact with Miss Flack, and had offered her support.
■ For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org