Death of a Show jumper, Katie Simpson

[Traks]

There are some new episodes of Murder at the Stables, the BBC podcast out this week and some next. The police officer who didn't give up is interviewed for them it seems as he's now no longer a serving officer and can speak out.

ETA was so pleased Abi won the HHO award

Thank you I’ll have a listen x

 

[Marshpiper]

There are some new episodes of Murder at the Stables, the BBC podcast out this week and some next. The police officer who didn't give up is interviewed for them it seems as he's now no longer a serving officer and can speak out.

ETA was so pleased Abi won the HHO award

The policeman who was brought into the case by the journalist concerned left the police shortly after the case went to court (and what a disgrace that was, why was Cresswell on bail) he is now investigating other cases similar to Katie’s….google Katie’s Trust….

 

[marmalade76]

Just catching up with the new podcast episodes - why does it seem that JC was being protected?? Why and by whom?

 

[sportsmansB]

Katie's Trust are really pushing now for better safeguarding in the industry, where predatory men can have so much influence over young people- controlling their livelihood, their home, their passion for horses, when they are often physically separated from their families. We are bringing them to an eventing information evening we hold at the start of the season every year to give a presentation.

I did know JC in passing, he could have been considered charming in a 'cheeky chappy' sort of way - and I knew 2 of the 3 accused of the coverup in a similar way - (not JR). Also knew others who were absolutely convinced of his innocence right up to the suicide
I do think he can only be compared to a sort of cult leader. I haven't watched or listened - I can't quite bear it- but obviously there was a lot of information going around the local horse community during the 'investigation'.

On the protection - I honestly don't know. Historically in NI this had some sort of paramilitary / political / police connection- but even the paramilitaries on both sides are not keen on this sort of thing, and indeed stopped him living in a planned location when on bail so unless he had a police connection, this is weird. He wasn't from a particularly wealthy or well connected family.

 

[ester]

It’s still wild he was on bail

 

[marmalade76]

Katie's Trust are really pushing now for better safeguarding in the industry, where predatory men can have so much influence over young people- controlling their livelihood, their home, their passion for horses, when they are often physically separated from their families. We are bringing them to an eventing information evening we hold at the start of the season every year to give a presentation.

I did know JC in passing, he could have been considered charming in a 'cheeky chappy' sort of way - and I knew 2 of the 3 accused of the coverup in a similar way - (not JR). Also knew others who were absolutely convinced of his innocence right up to the suicide
I do think he can only be compared to a sort of cult leader. I haven't watched or listened - I can't quite bear it- but obviously there was a lot of information going around the local horse community during the 'investigation'.

On the protection - I honestly don't know. Historically in NI this had some sort of paramilitary / political / police connection- but even the paramilitaries on both sides are not keen on this sort of thing, and indeed stopped him living in a planned location when on bail so unless he had a police connection, this is weird. He wasn't from a particularly wealthy or well connected family.

Did the local horse community in general believe he was innocent? Did those who believed he was know him well, were they friends, clients or employers of his?

 

[smolmaus]

On the protection - I honestly don't know. Historically in NI this had some sort of paramilitary / political / police connection- but even the paramilitaries on both sides are not keen on this sort of thing, and indeed stopped him living in a planned location when on bail so unless he had a police connection, this is weird. He wasn't from a particularly wealthy or well connected family.

This can be true after the fact, but untrue before arrest or publicity. That's all about optics, not genuine moral standpoints.

 

[sportsmansB]

Did the local horse community in general believe he was innocent? Did those who believed he was know him well, were they friends, clients or employers of his?

I'd say it was a mixture. The Abi Lyle case had got some publicity at the time, but that was a long time before, and he had spun a story (as far as I remember) that it was her father who had pushed for it due to not wanting the relationship, and it was a load of nonsense. Lots of people believed that. I'd say many of the people who knew him the best thought he was innocent (friends and clients). He came across lighthearted, fun, charming - a real cheeky ladies man. He was a good rider too, especially on a young green sharp horse and people would have sent him 4yo's etc to get started, hunting jumping etc.
The living situation was really weird when it came out after- but then oftentimes young grooms live in at their jobs and I don't know if anyone thought that was odd until they knew the real story. I think they thought since he had a partner (I don't think anyone thought he was faithful as such but equally I don't think they would have been expecting him to be carrying on under the same roof) that it wasn't anything sinister or overly odd. They just all worked together and needed somewhere to live.