‘Double killing photos’ officers charged

Two police officers have been charged with misconduct over allegations that they shared photographs of the scene of a double killing.

PC Deniz Jaffer, 47, and PC Jamie Lewis, 32, of the Metropolitan Police, have been charged after an investigation into pictures which were taken and circulated of sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, who were stabbed to death at Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north-west London, in the early hours of June 6 last year.

Social worker Ms Henry, from Brent, and photographer Ms Smallman, from Harrow, had met friends the previous evening to celebrate the elder sister’s birthday.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog carried out a criminal investigation into allegations the officers took “non-official and inappropriate photographs” of the crime scene before sharing them on Whatsapp.

The Crown Prosecution Service said both men will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court next month charged with one count each of misconduct in public office.

Reports of the pictures had devastated the mother of Ms Smallman and Ms Henry. Mina Smallman told the BBC at the time that the pictures “dehumanised” her children. “This has taken our grief to another place,” she said.

Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said at the time of the allegations: “My heart goes out to the family.”

Danyal Hussein, 18, of Guy Barnett Grove, Blackheath, south-east London, is facing trial in June, accused of the sisters’ murders.