A report made by a 12-year-old girl who said she was raped was taken “very seriously” by police, her inquest has heard.
Semina Halliwell tragically died by suicide after taking an overdose in June 2021 at her home in Southport, Merseyside. Three months prior to her death, she had told her mum she had been sexually assaulted by an older boy in January of that year.
An inquest being held into her death has heard from police officers who dealt with the allegation, telling the coroners court that the complaint was followed through by protocol. One officer who interviewed Semina said he had made her aware of the tough process involved in investigating rape, but that he would do his best to find the “golden nugget” of evidence.
It was heard how Semina was not expressly told “I believe you”, by the officer. It follows Semina’s mother Rachel telling the inquest on Monday that her daughter might still be alive if she had received better support from police, school and social services.
Semina’s mum Rachel Halliwell from Southport
(
Image:
Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Giving evidence at the hearing at Bootle Town Hall on Wednesday, PC Paula Carney said she took the initial account from Semina on March 24. Semina had reported that she had been in touch with the boy on Snapchat since November 2020, and that he had been “pestering” her to meet up.
She alleged he had sexually assaulted her on two occasions, in January and February, PC Carney told the inquest. The officer returned with colleague Detective Constable Chris Loughead on March 28.
Asked how seriously he took Semina’s allegation, DC Loughead said: “Very seriously – you can see from the outset as soon as I have read the report I’m making phone calls.” Harriet Johnson, representing the family, asked Det Con Loughead whether he had told Semina in that meeting if it would be “her word against” her alleged attacker’s.
Semina’s allegation was taken ‘very seriously’ by police, officers told the inquest
(
Image:
PA)
Det Con Loughead said he would have explained the investigation process to her. “It would be their two accounts against each other, yes,” he said. “I’m talking to Semina about potential pitfalls, and her family, and one of those potential pitfalls is it is going to be potentially that kind of case because we didn’t have forensics or a medical.”
He added that he would have taken Semina through the length of the judicial process – potentially 18 months to two years – before going to court, should they succeed with a prosecution. Asked whether Semina might have understood that as it being a “burdensome investigation”, he said: “Absolutely not.”
“I never said it would be an administrative burden,” he said. “It’s certainly not a burden, it’s part and parcel of my job to ensure I gather evidence.” Ms Johnson asked the detective: “Did you at any stage tell her that you believed her?”
He said: “I don’t remember using those exact words. I think the phrase I commonly use is ‘no matter how difficult it is I’ll always look for a golden nugget to prove it’.”
Mum Rachel Halliwell and Aunty Clare pose with a portrait of Semina Halliwell at The Atkinson in Southport
(
Image:
Liverpool Echo)
Det Con Loughead said Semina’s mother and her aunt, Clare Halliwell, were asked to leave the room while they talked to the schoolgirl. “There were lots of suggestions from mum and aunty,” he said. “Pressure’s being put on her maybe to pursue something that she didn’t want to do, just from the reactions we were getting from her.”
PC Carney said Rachel Halliwell was “enthusiastic” about Semina making the complaint. “I think mum was encouraging Semina to go ahead,” she said. “If I remember correctly it was ‘you don’t want this to happen to somebody else’. I reiterated to Semina that wasn’t her responsibility to take on.”
PC Carney said she referred Semina to the Rape and Sexual Assault charity. The inquest heard that Semina decided not to pursue the complaint but later changed her mind and was due to have a video interview on June 10.
She took an overdose of medication on June 9 and died in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital three days later. The inquest is due to last until next Tuesday.
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.