The family of a vulnerable 18-year-old woman said “20 agencies” that knew about her case should have protected her from a man who beat her to death.
Scott Clifford, then 34, inflicted more than 50 injuries and fatal head trauma on his girlfriend Natasha Hill when he attacked her in 2018, leaving her dead.
Clifford was sentenced to 18 years in prison for murder after a court hearing in 2019. After Mrs. Hill’s murder at his grandfather’s home in Thameshe called paramedics and claimed the victim had fallen down the stairs – but he was spotted trying to wash his clothes as they tried to save her life.
Monday it was reported that the victim’s family appealed a pre-inquest review to a London coroner to open a full investigation on the grounds that authorities should have better protected her. They said “20 different agencies” knew about Ms Hill, who grew up in healthcare.
Inner London Coroners’ Court was told she had a “compelling and controlling” relationship with Clifford, who had carried out two previous assaults on her.
The family lawyer said that Ms. Hill had been hospitalized a number of times after being assaulted by Clifford, but that the abuse was not caught or action was taken.
Emma-Louise Fenelon, the attorney, said: “It’s the fact that Natasha, four years old, was taken care of and became a cared for child and had been involved in 20 agencies in the last 12 months of her life; all of which “They had owe it their own protection and policy of protection. She got into a relationship with someone who was known to be abusive before. That was all known to the authorities. ”
Essex County Council, which cared for Ms Hill as she grew up, is one of the bodies under investigation in a possible investigation. The authority said the procedure would be “no use” but would help the coroner.
However, a full investigation is open for January 4, 2023. Before that, a domestic homicide investigation will be completed by the end of this year to determine any lessons learned from the ordeal. Evidence will be collected by: Essex Policethe metropolitan police and Essex County Council.