Three women have been handed suspended sentences due to their involvement in obstructing justice and withholding imperative information during the murder case of well-known showjumper, Katie Simpson. Jonathan James Creswell, a 36-year-old resident of Greysteel in Co Derry, was on trial for Ms Simpson’s rape and murder when proceedings were halted abruptly following his mysterious death at home in April.
Ms Simpson was fatally attacked at her residence in Gortnessy Meadows in Lettershandoney, located near Derry. After the attack, she lived six more days before succumbing to her injuries at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry on August 9th, 2020. She was living with her sister at the time, the partner of Mr Creswell.
Hayley Robb, a 30-year-old from Weavers Meadow, Banbridge, had earlier admitted to obstruction of justice and withholding vital facts related to the case. She confessed to cleaning Mr Creswell’s bloody clothes at her home. Consequently, she was handed a suspended prison sentence of two years for misguiding legal proceedings and another year for concealing information.
Jill Robinson, aged 42 and residing on Blackfort Road in Omagh, also received a 16-month suspended sentence after admitting to obstructing justice by laundering Mr Creswell’s apparel. Whereas, Rose De Montmorency-Wright of Craigantlet Road in Newtownards, convicted of withholding facts related to the case, received an eight-month suspended sentence.
The trio’s attempted cover-up and silence were called out as a “conspiracy” by the prosecution barrister, Sam Magee KC, stating that it misled the authorities and hindered their progress in the investigation.
During their sentencing at Derry’s Crown Court, Judge Neil Rafferty expressed the significant impact of Simpson’s loss, describing her as a jovial, approachable and skilled horsewoman who left profound impressions on people. Her brutal death has caused immense grief and outrage as she was unjustly deprived of a promising future.
While addressing those accused, Judge Rafferty was thoroughly convinced that, if not for the manipulation by Jonathan Creswell, none of the defendants would be in court.
More updates on this will be provided shortly…