Girl killed herself after accusing her stepfather of sexual abuse
A GIRL who alleged she had been sexually assaulted by her stepfather killed herself after police released him on bail, a court has heard.
Georgia Walsh, who was 16 when she took her life last year, left a note stating that she hoped that Brett Connell would “rot in hell” for what he had done, jurors at Maidstone Crown Court were told yesterday.
A month before her death, she had told police that the 36-year-old had molested her while tucking her into bed at night when she was aged 13 or 14, adding that she felt “lost and scared”.
The court heard she became withdrawn at school and believed she had to “stay silent” about the abuse.
Dominic Connolly, prosecuting, said the girl confided in her mother, Jennifer, on Feb 8 last year and was interviewed by police six days later.
But Georgia committed suicide on March 17 after Mr Connell had denied the allegations to the police, who then released him on bail.
Mr Connolly said: “She left a note referring to how the stress from the current situation was too much to handle, and to ‘make sure that b------ rots in hell for what he has done’.” Mr Connell, a coffee shop worker from Sevenoaks in Kent, denies five offences of sexual activity with Georgia.
He also faces 11 other sex offence charges unrelated to Georgia. Before the case began, Recorder Peter Guest, the judge, told the jury that Georgia had killed herself.
“You may be tempted immediately to jump to the conclusion that the defendant is in some way responsible for her death,” he said.
“You should not do that. You must keep an open mind, listen to the evidence, speeches and summing up before reaching any conclusions.”
He allowed a video recording of Georgia’s police interview to be played in court but told jurors that Mr Connell’s defence was disadvantaged as her account could not be “tested or challenged”, and she had not taken an oath.
“Although you have seen her being interviewed, you are not able to observe her body language and how she reacts to questions in cross-examination,” he said.
“It is important you keep these disadvantages that face the defence in these circumstances at the forefront of your mind.” The trial continues.