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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

College student, 18, hanged herself at home 'after acquittal of man she accused of rape'



A teenage girl hanged herself after being left devastated by the acquittal of a man she accused of rape, an inquest heard today.

Kayley Howson, 18, endured a three year legal ordeal culminating in her testifying against her alleged assailant in court only to see him cleared by a jury. The college student, who slipped into bouts of depression after making her allegation to police, was said to have taken the verdict 'very very hard' and 'blamed herself.' She later hanged herself at her family home in Burnley, Lancashire.


Today more than four years since she died in March 2008, the inquest began into the tragedy, which will examine why medication Kayley was taking was stopped in the week before her death. Kayley, who was studying health and social care at Burnley College and hoped to become a psychiatric nurse, had confided to a teacher in 2003 when she was 13 that she had been raped and she later gave a statement to police. But due to several adjournments the case did not go to court until 2006 where Kayley gave evidence by video link.

In an interview given after her death, Kayley’s mother, Janet Mitchell, said: 'It was awful. Kayley was totally traumatised. 'I felt so guilty she hadn’t confided in me. Eventually, the person she named as her attacker was charged but, as we waited for the court case, Kayley went to pieces and cried a lot.' She said she then began noticing Kayley had begun self harming. 'She took overdoses, too, even at school. They got used to rushing her to hospital, as I did. It was heartbreaking watching my little girl crumble. I just wanted the court case to be over. But each time that the date approached, it was adjourned. 'It finally went to court when Kayley was 16. She gave evidence by video-link but the defendant was later acquitted.
 Troubled: Kayley Howson, right, celebrates her 18th birthday party with sister Jayde, left, and a friend. She endured a three year legal ordeal culminating in her testifying against her alleged assailant in court only to see him cleared by a jury
Troubled: Kayley Howson, right, celebrates her 18th birthday party with sister Jayde, left. The college student slipped into bouts of depression after making her allegation to police

'I was devastated. I had promised Kayley it would turn out OK. The police officers felt terrible, too. They said they felt they’d let her down. Kayley blamed herself, as if it were her fault she’d been raped. She believed everyone would think she was a liar.' The hearing was told Kayley began treatment through the Lancashire Care NHS Trust and had a number of treatments but had been experiencing mood swings and took 12 overdoses of paracetomol and cocodamol in three years.

Wanting answers: Kayley's mother Janet Mitchell, left, and sister Catherine arrive at Burnley Town Hall for the inquest into her death. Mrs Mitchell, 52, told the inquest: 'Giving evidence at the court was hard for her. Kayley started self-harming after revealing what had allegedly happened. 'She became withdrawn and didn’t want to talk about what happened. She was a completely different person to what she was like before, overcome with waves of depression. 'She’d go to her bedroom and write deep poetry as her way of expressing herself.'

Around two weeks before her death Kayley had stopped taking the drug Depakote, more commonly used for treatment for epileptics, after a consultation with her doctor. Mrs Mitchell told the inquest: 'It was immediately noticeable that there was a change in her after about four or five days. Her mood swings became worse and she was worried and panicky. 'On the Saturday she had three heavy mood swings. We spoke about going on holiday next year and I arranged for her to come to the opticians with me on the Monday, she seemed to be more positive later in the day.'
After watching TV with her two nieces Kayley spoke to her mum about a film she had watched 20 minutes before going to bed at around 11.30pm. Mrs Mitchell then went to go to bed shortly after 12.20am. It was then that she discovered her daughter's body.

A screwed up note was found in a bin and Kayley’s diary showed that one day she would attempt suicide and then not another and be fine. Dr Venu Duddu, a consultant psychiatrist from the Lancashire Care NHS Trust, who had been involved in Kayley’s treatment since 2003 said Kayley had been diagnosed with depression and then post traumatic stress.
He said: 'Her behaviour was quite unpredictable and was at high risk of self-harm and was recommended therapy. Kayley had said she felt relaxed when she had taken an overdose. 'But as the months and years go on there are a series of overdoses, complaints of anxiety and panic attacks.'


In March 2007 she was prescribed 250mg of the drug Depakote twice a day and it was upped in October 2007 to 500mg twice daily. It was put back to its original dosage after she suffered side effects including stomach cramps and back ache. On February 21st 2008 the Depakote was discontinued because of the side effects and her non-compliance with taking them. The following week Kayley began to feel more anxious but despite a call from her crisis team she said she didn’t want them to visit. She hanged herself two days later.
The inquest continues.


Daily Mail UK
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