Katie Simpson inquest gets underway with Preliminary hearing in Belfast

A preliminary hearing in the inquest into the death of Katie Simpson, the young show jumper who died in Altnagelvin Hospital after initially being thought of as a suicide, opened today. 

Ms Simpson (21) whose address was given as Middletown in County Armagh died on August 9, 2020 after been brought to the hospital by Jonathan Creswell who was subsequently charged with her murder.

The murder trial was halted after one day when Creswell was found dead. 

At today's hearing the Coroner Joe McCrisken was told that some consideration had to be given as to which parties could be classed as Properly Interested Parties (PIP) in the hearing.

Counsel to the Coroner suggested that perhaps the PSNI and Creswell's co-accused might be written to asking did they want to be represented.

The Simpson family already have PIP status and were represented at the hearing. 

The Coroner said he believed that disclosure in the case would be straightforward as it would consist of the criminal trial papers which were already prepared.

It was also suggested that the Public Prosecution Service could also be written to in order to ascertain what material they might have. 

Mr McCrisken said that there were several issues such as whether a jury would be required that he needed submissions on and he reminded the press that this was now a live hearing and as such covered by contempt of court rules. 

It was decided to adjourn the case until November 12 but in the meantime to request unredacted material from the PSNI, contact the BBC for their material and also to write to the PPS.