Three women who admitted their roles in covering for the man accused on the murder of Katie Simpson have walked free from court.
Jonathan Creswell (36) previously of Briar Hill Gardens, Greysteel was charged with murdering the talented showjumper on August 3 2020 and raping her at some time beforehand.
His trial got underway on April 23, but ended 24 hours later after he was found dead.
While four women, all associated with Creswell through the equestrian industry, were reported by PSNI for prosecution, a decision was taken to proceed against three.
Hayley Robb (30) from Weavers Meadow, Banbridge withheld information knowing Creswell had assaulted Katie and perverted justice by cleaning blood in his home.
She and Jill Robinson (42) from Blackfort Road, Omagh jointly perverted justice by washing his clothes.
Rose de Montmorency-Wright (23) of Craigantlet Road, Newtownards withheld information knowing Creswell had assaulted Katie.
Prosecution counsel Sam Magee KC accepted the women did not know Creswell had murdered Katie rather their actions were to cover up the assault.
He described them as: “Protecting Creswell from being suspected of having a role in (Katie’s) death …They ascribed to and were complicit in his conspiracy of silence around critical facts, engaging in acts which misled those trying to uncover the truth.”
Katie sustained injuries all over her body including defensive wounds on her arms and hands, “tramline” bruising potentially inflicted with a rod-type implement, and “grip marks” on her thigh “indicative” of violent sexual assault.
While Katie was being assessed in hospital, Hayley, Christina (Creswell’s partner and Katie’s sister) and Jill were with him when he broke down stating: “Youse (sic) think I did this”.
Jill claimed all three women reassured him this wasn’t true because, “he doted on Katie.”
Creswell divulged that he had beaten Katie and intended to explain her significant injuries occurred from being trampled.
None reported this to police or medical staff.
On Creswell’s instruction, Hayley took his clothes, later meeting up with Jill, before they drove to an external launderette and washed them.
Jill returned the clothing to Creswell’s mother’s house that day and instructed Hayley not to tell anyone of this.
She accepted being in a continuous relationship with Creswell for 10 years – overlapping with Christina - which continued up to his arrest, however this was marked with abusive, controlling behaviour including physical attacks and continuously demanding to know her movements and checking her phone.
Hayley’s fear of Creswell worsened after she provided information to police.
While she was not immediately open with police she volunteered significant evidence before becoming a prosecution witness.
Rose, the youngest of the women living in Creswell’s home, described him as “A close friend, someone she looked up to. She wasn’t afraid of him and he had no hold over her. She was completely unaware of anything sexual between him and Katie.”
The defence contended Rose acted out of, “False, fake and misconceived loyalties, against a background of control.”
A lawyer accepted her lack of cooperation “derailed the investigation”, but accepted it was hindered.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that Katie was, “Cruelly deprived of the bright future she undoubtedly had.”
The basis of plea in respect of the women was, “They acted on Creswell’s lie.”
The judge said “It somewhat unusual to deal with someone who is not before the court but I have found it almost impossible to set out the sentencing without considering Jonathan Creswell.”
He paid tribute to “courageous” Abigail Lyle, Creswell’s former partner who came forward to assist in Katie’s case and her evidence, “Paints the most compelling picture of subjecting her to coercive control, numerous physical assaults and strangulation. The foreshadowing of the death of Katie is chilling.”
Referring to the evidence of Katie’s best friend from the age of four, Chloe Scott, who was one of the first to raise concerns over the purported suicide, Judge Rafferty said, “She set out how Creswell effectively groomed and dominated Katie from around the age of 10, which continued through her teens.”
On Friday, the judge said the offending was serious and crossed the custody threshold and in relation to Robb imposed a sentence of two years.
Turning to Robinson, he imposed a sentence of 16 months with de Montmorency-Wright receiving eight months.
Following consideration however Judge Rafferty decided the “using of them by Creswell was cynical and exploitive” and suspended all for two years.
