DEAD WOMAN ‘FAILED BY POLICE’
LAURA Stuart’s mother, Elizabeth Griffiths, said a watchdog’s report into how her complaints of domestic abuse were handled by police show her daughter was “failed”.
Speaking out at the end of what has been more than two years of torment for her and her family, she said: “The report shows Laura was failed – that they did fail her and more could have been done.
“At the end of the day there was talk of him going on a PIN [Police Information Notice, sometimes called a Harassment Warning Notice] but when we were in court for Cooper’s murder trial the officer said it would have been a useless exercise.
“If he had been put on a PIN would it have been a deterrent?”
Mrs Griffiths said she believes Miss Stuart was scared of saying anything against Cooper and more could have been done by officers to support her daughter – a point made by the report’s author.
She added: “I think a lot more could have been done. When she was at the house with Jason he had that hold on her that she was too scared.
“The report has delved into everything and found there was wrongdoing by officers. It does show that there were failings by police and they did fail her in certain ways.”
Mrs Griffiths says she is now going to spend time with her family, including Miss Stuart’s children, Nikita, aged 17, and 15-year-old Jack, who now live with their father.
Mrs Griffiths said: “In some ways we can move on now. Her children miss her – we all do. I think this report is the final thing now.”