Derry Crown Court was full but silent in expectation of His Honour Judge Neil Rafferty KC’s sentencing remarks in the cases of three women charged in connection with the death of showjumper, Katie Simpson.
The three women - Hayley Robb, Jill Robinson and Rose De Montmorency-Wright - sat in the dock flanked by a security guard, faces drawn, eyes downwards.
It had been accepted by the prosecution that all three believed they were covering up an assault not a murder.
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As the judge referred to the victim statements in the case, which he described as bearing “testimony to the character of Katie Simpson”, Hayley Robb wiped away tears.
Once the sentences, which were suspended, were delivered, Katie Simpson’s grandfather, Colm Mullan, got up and left the court, saying it was a “disgrace”.
Outside the courthouse, Katie’s mother, Noeleen, read a statement telling how the family, not having a trial in the wake of Jonathan Creswell’s death, had been left with “an overwhelming sense of injustice”.
She said it was “heartbreaking to know the suffering that monster put Katie through”.
Mrs Simpson added: “You can’t imagine anyone could do such a thing and Katie would have tried her hardest to fight back because she loved life.
“Not having a trial has left an overwhelming sense of injustice. What kept us going through all this was thinking he will be imprisoned anytime now. When you look back from the start, it was never going to happen.
“I spent months imagining different ways I could have saved Katie. It is heartbreaking to know we will never see Katie’s smile again. Katie’s passion for horses, her talent and love for her family and friends and her laugh will be the memories we will keep.
“Working with horses was her dream career and she was really good at it. That morning, all Katie was doing was getting up to go to work, like she did every morning. she worked so hard, and we are so proud to call her our daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, work colleague,” said Mrs Simpson.
She went on to thank all of the people and organisations who contacted the police after her daughter’s death because they did not believe it had been suicide.
She also paid tribute to the PSNI Family Liaison Officers, everyone who had supported the family with “kind messages and prayers over these four years” and Cruse Bereavement.
