Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Friday, November 7, 2014

DPP orders inquiry into alleged rape victim suicide case


by Emily Straton and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Website

Eleanor de Freitas Three days before Ms de Freitas had been due to stand trial in April, she took her own life

Related Stories

An investigation has been launched into why a woman was prosecuted over an alleged false rape claim - and then killed herself.
Eleanor de Freitas, 23, had bipolar disorder, and left notes saying she was frightened of going to court.
She said she had been raped but faced trial for allegedly perverting the course of justice.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said she was asking officials for answers.
An inquest into Ms de Freitas' death had been due to open on Friday, but her family want it to be treated as a special type of legal case where a jury can consider whether public bodies could have done more to prevent a fatality.
Ms de Freitas suffered a mental breakdown during her first year at Durham University. She was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and had received medical treatment.
'Full explanation' In early 2013 she had made a rape complaint to the Metropolitan Police.
The force told her there would not be a prosecution because of some inconsistencies in her evidence.
The man she had accused of rape then launched his own private prosecution, accusing her of perverting the course of justice.
Ms de Freitas' solicitors asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to halt the private action, but it decided to take it over and continue it.
Three days before Ms de Freitas had been due to stand trial in April, she took her own life.
Alison Saunders Alison Saunders said the case was "one of the most difficult I have seen"
In a statement the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Saunders, said she wanted to meet the de Freitas family after she had completed her investigation.
"I am very saddened by the tragic death of Eleanor de Freitas," she said.
"I have asked the team which dealt with this case for a full explanation which addresses all of the de Freitas family's concerns.
"I appreciate the family's unease which is why I am looking at this personally in order to satisfy myself of the detail surrounding all the stages of the case.
"Prosecuting cases of perverting the course of justice in connection with an alleged false rape allegation is rare, extremely difficult and always complex and sensitive.
'Serious concerns' "This case was one of the most difficult I have seen. To say any more at this stage would be inappropriate until I can answer the de Freitas family's concerns fully and directly."
Under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, public bodies must account for their actions if they were either involved in a death or there is a question over whether they could have done something to prevent it from happening.
In practice, this usually means holding an inquest before a jury so that it can decide whether or not the state had any role in what happened.
Deborah Coles of campaign group Inquest said: "This case raises serious issues of concern regarding the prosecution of rape complainants."

More on This Story

Related Stories

1 comment:

  1. Do you need to increase your credit score?
    Do you intend to upgrade your school grade?
    Do you want to hack your cheating spouse Email, whatsapp, Facebook, instagram or any social network?
    Do you need any information concerning any database.
    Do you need to retrieve deleted files?
    Do you need to clear your criminal records or DMV?
    Do you want to remove any site or link from any blog?
    you should contact this hacker, he is reliable and good at the hack jobs..
    contact : cybergoldenhacker at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete