19 Dec Inquest touching the death of Lucy Rushton: Jury finds that domestic abuse victim was unlawfully killed by her partner after contact with police 3 weeks before she died

Before HM Area Coroner Darren Stewart OBE
Winchester Coroner’s Court
2-18 December 2024

Gold Jennings represented the family of Lucy Rushton, 30, who died on 23 June 2019. Lucy was murdered at home by her estranged husband, Shaun Dyson. Lucy died from multiple blunt force injuries that caused 37 separate rib fractures and massive internal blood loss. Prior to her death, Lucy had been subjected to a prolonged period of serious domestic abuse as well as controlling and coercive behaviour perpetrated by Mr Dyson.

Lucy was born in Winchester and leaves behind five children. Her family describe her as caring, fun-loving and a phenomenal mum with a passion for dancing.

Lucy began a relationship with Mr Dyson in 2010. The relationship was abusive from the start and marked by incidents of extreme violence and death threats. Lucy was subjected to non-fatal strangulation and the jury heard evidence of how she fell into several high risk categories for domestic homicide.

In September 2018 police were called to an incident at a hotel in Bournemouth after witnesses reported an assault on Lucy by Mr Dyson. CCTV captured the assault, but officers did not check the footage or speak to witnesses. An assessment conducted at the scene graded the risk to Lucy as “standard”. The inquest heard from the officers that had attended the scene that had they reviewed the CCTV Mr Dyson would have been arrested and that Lucy’s risk assessment would have been “medium” or “high”.

On 30 May 2019, Lucy’s brother, Luke, reported serious sexual and physical abuse being perpetrated by Mr Dyson to Hampshire Police. Luke also gave police copies of graphic photographs depicting this abuse. The images had been taken and shared with others by Mr Dyson. Luke told officers he was very concerned about Lucy’s safety, that she may be reluctant to speak to officers because she was “petrified” her children may be removed and that Mr Dyson was controlling of his sister. The officer who received the report deemed it so serious as to require Mr Dyson to be arrested as a priority and that other lines of enquiry, including seizing his phone, be pursued.

Mr Dyson wasn’t arrested and instead an officer attended on Lucy the following morning. Lucy denied her brother’s report but, despite Luke’s warning about her denial, her account was taken at face value and no further investigative steps at all were taken. The matter was closed by police less than 24 hours after it had been reported. The jury heard from the officer who spoke with Lucy that she accepted that she wasn’t sufficiently experienced to visit her. DCS Fiona Bitters, Hampshire Police’s strategic lead for domestic abuse, told the inquest that her officer could have been more “probing” with Lucy.

Tragically, Lucy was murdered 3 weeks later. The jury concluded that there had been shortcomings in both police attendances on Lucy.

HM Coroner has deferred his decision on the need for a Prevention of Future Deaths/Regulation 28 report pending receipt of further evidence.

Myra Simpson, Lucy’s mother said:

“Lucy was failed by professionals who could have stepped in to help. Her death has broken our family, and I miss her every day. I hope that the police and other agencies involved have learned something from our tragedy.”

Robert Hamill, of Gold Jennings Solicitors, said:

“This inquest has shone a light on the horrible domestic violence Lucy suffered and the extent to which she felt unable to reach out for help. It has also highlighted significant deficiencies in how police investigated reports of abuse. This situation will not be unique to Lucy, and it is therefore essential that public bodies responsible for safeguarding victims are proactive and able to take steps to protect those who cannot seek help themselves.”

Lucy’s family are represented by Stuart Withers of No5 Chambers and Robert Hamill of Gold Jennings.

For further enquiries please contact Robert Hamill on 0208 445 9268 or robert@goldjennings.co.uk