Inquest into Tragic Southport Girl's Death Finds No Preventative Failures by Authorities

An inquest into the death of a 12-year-old girl who said she was raped by an older boy has found none of the authorities who had contact with her could have prevented her death.

Semina Halliwell, of Southport, died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in June 2021, three days after taking an overdose of prescription medication.

Her mother, Rachel Halliwell, told the inquest last month that Semina "felt like she wasn't believed" after making an allegation of sexual assault to police.

The assistant coroner for Sefton, Johanna Thompson, concluded Semina had died "while in a state of distress and her intention at that time is unknown".

The coroner had earlier said that a conclusion of suicide was not possible in this case.

Ms Thompson said Semina had a "complex social history" and was "highly vulnerable".

However, she said she did not agree with submissions from the family that Merseyside Police, Semina's school, health trusts and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council had breached their operational duties to her.

She added: "The evidence has not revealed a real and immediate risk to Semina's life known to the state agencies which would have made her death preventable by the state."

The inquest, which was held at Bootle Town Hall for six days last month, heard that Semina had told her mother in March 2021 she had been sexually assaulted by an older boy in January that year.

The boy had been messaging her online since the previous summer, the hearing was told.

Ms Halliwell said the incident "destroyed" her daughter, who had been self-harming in the year before her death.

She reported the allegation to police, but said that after officers came to speak to Semina she "felt like she wasn't believed".

Source BBC