Family of murdered Worthing woman win High Court battle to get answers from Sussex Police

The family of a murdered Worthing woman have won a High Court victory to get answers from Sussex Police.
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In 2017, Robert Trigg was found guilty of murdering his partner Susan Nicholson, 52, at her home in Rowlands Road, Worthing, on April 17, 2011, and of the manslaughter of another partner, Caroline Devlin, 35, on Mother’s Day in 2006.

The deaths were initially not treated as suspicious by police – despite the force being aware of Trigg’s history of domestic abuse – and he only faced justice after Susan’s parents Peter and Elizabeth Skelton spent their life savings getting the case to court.

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An inquest into Susan’s death was reopened in the wake of his conviction – but was only going to be short, not investigating whether police could have done more to protect her.

Susan Nicholson, aged 27Susan Nicholson, aged 27
Susan Nicholson, aged 27

The Skeltons took this decision by the senior coroner for West Sussex, Penelope Schofield, to the High Court earlier this month – and today (October 23) judges ordered a full inquest into her death, ‘with the hope that victims of domestic violence are better protected by police in the future’, lawyers for Susan’s parents said.

Susan’s father Peter said: “We are so relieved that the court has come to this decision, and that there will now be a full inquest into the police’s failings surrounding the death of our daughter.

“Susan was cruelly taken away from us nine years ago, and yet it has taken this long for the authorities to be questioned about the role they played in her death.

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“Sussex Police have made this process much harder and more stressful by arguing against our request for a fuller inquest and threatening us with a large bill of costs if we had not been successful.

Peter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan NicholsonPeter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan Nicholson
Peter and Elizabeth Skelton with a picture of their daughter Susan Nicholson

“We want to know whether Susan’s death could have been prevented, so that this doesn’t happen again and other families don’t have to go through the pain and distress that we have.”

The full inquest, under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - will take an in-depth look at whether the police failed to protect Susan’s life. This will include looking at whether the police properly investigated the death of another of Trigg’s partners, Caroline Devlin, and whether they responded appropriately to violence that Trigg committed against Susan in the weeks before her death.

Witnesses will be interviewed and questions will be directed to Sussex Police officers about whether they took adequate steps to protect Susan, and whether they could have prevented her murder.

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At the hearing, Sussex Police argued that the judicial review should be dismissed despite initially indicating that they took a neutral stance. They also sent a bill for their costs to Susan’s parents’ solicitors, indicating that they would claim their legal costs from Susan’s parents if the legal challenge was unsuccessful.

Robert Trigg also chose to intervene in the judicial review. In a naked attempt to undermine his conviction, his sister in law, who is a solicitor, argued on his behalf that the new inquest should look again at whether he was responsible for Susan’s death, even though he has already been convicted of her murder. His application has been roundly rejected in the judgment.

The police had been called to Susan’s flat at least three times in the weeks before her death following reports of violence. Sussex Police were aware that Trigg had a long history of violence against women, causing one former partner to be hospitalised after he brutally assaulted her. They were also aware that Trigg’s former partner Caroline Devlin had died in bed with him five years before, but they did not consider her death suspicious. Trigg was convicted of the murder of Susan and the manslaughter of Caroline in July 2017, after six years of campaigning by Susan’s parents. Trigg is serving a 25-year sentence for the deaths.

Peter and Elizabeth Skelton are represented by Alice Hardy of Hodge Jones & Allen and Heather Williams QC of Doughty Street Chambers.

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Alice Hardy, Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “I am so relieved that the court have come to this decision.

“Susan’s parents have fought so hard already; they didn’t need this further battle.

“It is regrettable that Sussex Police decided to contest their application for a full inquest, particularly after the years they had already spent fighting for Trigg to be properly investigated for Susan’s death.

“If it wasn’t for them, Trigg would never have been convicted for the murder and manslaughter of two women. He would have been free to continue committing violence against women.

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“Now, thanks to them, there will be an opportunity to examine whether Susan’s death could have been prevented.

“I hope that this means that lessons will be learnt, so that victims of domestic violence are better protected in future.

“I am immensely grateful to my clients’ barrister, Heather Williams QC, whose extraordinary advocacy ensured that the court came to the right decision.”

A spokesman for Mrs Schofield said: “The West Sussex coroner is unable to make any comment on the outcome of the case, as it would be inappropriate to do so before the new inquest takes place.”

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A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We have today, received the judgement of the court and we are considering our position. We will, of course, fully co-operate with HM Coroner in providing information for inquest. It would not be appropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”