Suspended sentences for three women in connection with the Katie Simpson murder case

Three women accused of withholding information and obstructing justice in connection with the murder of Katie Simpson on August 9, 2020 were given suspended sentences at Derry Crown Court today.

TThe defendants are Rose De Montmorency-Wright, 23, of Craigantlet Road, Newtownards, Hayley Rob, 30, of Weavers Row, Banbridge, and Jill Robinson, 42, of Blackfort Road, Omagh.

The man who is alleged to have murdered her, Jonathan Creswell (36), was found dead on the morning of the second trial.

In today’s sentencing, Judge Neil Rafferty KC spoke of the “devastation and loss” felt by all who knew the deceased woman.

In her victim impact statement, Katie Simpson’s mother said: “If either girl had told the truth about what they knew, I would have been in a much better position to comfort them.”

She also said that if she had known the truth, “Jonathan Creswell would never have stood at Katie’s bedside.”

The dead woman’s grandparents said: “Everyone in Katie’s family wants her back.”

The judge said Katie Simpson’s death had left many people “shocked, devastated and angry”.

Regarding the incident itself, the judge said that Jonathan Creswell had “invented a lie by telling others that he had found Katie hanged in a stairwell”.

He said the defendants were “ascribed to and complicit in his conspiracy of silence,” adding that defendants Robb and Robinson “committed positive acts the result of which was to mislead those who sought to find out the truth about what had happened.”

The judge said all three had pleaded guilty on a common basis, namely that none of them knew or believed that Creswell had murdered Katie Simpson, but they all thought he had been involved in an attack.

He added that all three were aware that the police would investigate the incident and that Creswell did not want the police to know about his attack on the deceased.

Judge Rafferty said the plea showed that “all three defendants acted on Creswell’s lie that he had beaten Katie” and he had to pass sentence on the basis that the defendants were unaware that Creswell had murdered the deceased.

Regarding Creswell himself, the judge said there was evidence of Creswell’s attitude and behavior toward women.

One witness mentioned that Creswell subjected her to “coercive control and numerous physical attacks.”

He said Creswell particularly subjected her to choking and strangulation.

The judge said another witness testified at the trial that Creswell had “effectively prepared” Katie Simpson for the time when she was 10 years old.

He described Creswell as a “skilled and predatory abuser who viewed the women under his influence as being there only to be used and abused.”

The court concluded that withholding information and perverting the course of justice were serious offenses, adding that all three women had “crossed the threshold for detention.”

However, since all three had no previous convictions, he wanted to suspend the sentences.

Hayley Robb was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, Jill Robinson to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and Rose De Montmorency-Wright to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gibson said: “Katie Simpson lost her life at the age of just 21, leaving behind family members and many close friends. She was the heart of a family who simply adored her.