Semina Halliwell inquest: Day One

A summary of evidence heard during the inquest into the tragic death of 12-year-old Semina Halliwell in Southport in 2021 at Bootle Town Hall on Monday 13 January 2025.

EVIDENCE OF RACHEL HALLIWELL (MOTHER)

Prior to moving to Stanley High School in 2020 Semina had been a very happy little girl, who was popular and doing well at school. She said Semina had demonstrated autistic tendencies from a young age, which meant she had sensory issues and could be ‘blunt’.

After she moved to high school in 2020 Semina started to self-harm and became very withdrawn and sad and Ms Halliwell spoke to the GP and reached out to CAMHS (Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service) to ask for help.

Ms Halliwell said the self-harming was completely out of character but she did not believe that Semina was copying another person’s behaviour.

She said Mike Nugent from CAMHS was very good with Semina, that he spent a lot of time talking to her and she trusted him.

Semina received a diagnosis of autism in January 2021 and understood she had ‘quirky’ characteristics.

Ms Halliwell said she became aware a naked photograph of Semina had been circulating on social media and that she had informed the school. She said she dealt with the matter herself by discussing the matter with another parent from the school and the children.

She said she only found out about the rape allegation in March (2021) but there had not been any sexual activity prior to that.

She said she had had requests from Semina for friends to stay over at their home, including boys, but that the boys she knew were all friends and there was nothing sexual between them.

In March 2021 she said Semina had taken prescription medication but that she had not told her mother until much later on and did not give a reason for taking the medication.

Ms Halliwell said she had emailed the head of year at (Stanley High) school to tell them Semina had attempted to kill herself by taking an overdose.

When asked how Semina felt after she had told her about the allegation she said it was a relief to Semina.

In relation to the (physical) assaults against Semina, Ms Halliwell said Semina had not told her at the time but she had seen bruises on her neck and a Semina had shown her a video circulating online of her being beaten up.

She said the assaults had happened on three occasions close together and all involved pupils from other schools.

Ms Halliwell said she had informed Merseyside Police about the assaults and was asked to send videos in via email which she did.

When asked how Semina appeared after police got involved she said the problem was the boy in question was very well known in Southport, with a hard reputation and a lot of people were frightened of him.

She said Semina was afraid of the consequences of what was going to happen if she reported it.

After (the assaults) she said Semina was scared but it was only after she died that Ms Halliwell saw pictures and videos which showed how she (Semina) was struggling and drinking alcohol.

Ms Halliwell said after she made a report to the police PC Paula Carney had visited their home and spoken with Semina.

She said was later visited by PC Paula Carney and DC Christopher Loughead who spoke about Semina doing an ABE at 11am that day but that she knew it would not be possible as Semina struggled and liked routine and you couldn’t spring something like that on her.

She said she did not know what help or support was available and if a lot more support had been the time it could have been very different.

She said when Semina spoke to the officer she was told it was her word against his (the alleged offender).

She said Semina was also told that it would take 18 months to two years to go to court and Semina didn't want it hanging over her head. She said it was not what any woman or child needs to hear and that Semina was 12 with autism.

She said the reason for Semina not taking the matter any further was due to a lot of other factors including the reputation of the boy, bullying and online bullying and for a child (like Semina) it was a lot to process.

In relation to contact with social services she said Brenda Jones from Early Help had been very helpful but there was only so much she (Brenda) could do.

She said she told Brenda she was concerned about Semina’s behaviour and that that she was worried (Semina) would become promiscuous because she felt no boys wanted her as a girlfriend and she was going to be used for sex.

She said subsequently she became aware Semina was engaging in sexual activity.

When asked to describe the days leading up to Semina’s overdose Ms Halliwell said Semina’s brother was still being bullied and she had had no help or support and nothing was in place at all. She said Semina had been beaten up three times and police did not do anything about it.

She said on another occasion another boy had been kicking at the front door of their hours and his father had come knocking the door. She said when officers attended she had to go through the same story again.

She said Semina had got to a place where enough was enough and she could not cope.

She said on the night officers attend Semina had gone upstairs before police had left saying she had  had enough which Ms Halliwell understood it to be she had had enough of police being in the house and of everything that had happened at home and in school and she had had enough of talking about it.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL

Mr Branston (for Merseyside Police) asked Ms Halliwell if, as far as she was concerned the ABE was going to happen and she said yes.

Miss Johnson, representing the family, asked Ms Halliwell what the school had said when she had reported the naked photograph and she said the school had told her they could not do anything and to report the matter to the police. She said no further action was taken by the school as she had been the one who sorted it.

Ms Halliwell was asked what Semina had told her in March 2021 about being sexually assaulted. She said Semina had told her she had been under a lot of pressure and that she had tried to put the male off on several occasions.  She said she was terrified when the assault took place. Ms Halliwell said the assault had destroyed Semina mentally and physically and that she had changed to a different person.

Ms Halliwell said she had told the school about the sexual and physicals assaults and said there had been no help. She said that the school knew of Semina’s autism diagnosis and that she was more vulnerable than an average 12 year-old but they had not factored that in.

When asked about the police response to the sexual assault she said in her opinion they were not very professional in the way they presented themselves and spoke to Semina. She said it was not how you should speak to a 12 year-old child who had gone through a sexual experience like she had done and that it felt like they (the officers) did not care and could not be bothered.

She said the officers had come into the house and spoken about and played with dog and she felt they had a blasé attitude, that it was suggested a lot of forms would have to be filled in and that it (the investigation) would take 18 months to two years and did she (Semina) want that hanging over her head. 

She said it was not the way to speak to any victim and that it was known that Semina was 12 and she had autism. She said DC Loughead had had asked her (Ms Halliwell) if Semina had autism as if he did not believe she had it.

Ms Halliwell said nothing was mentioned by police about any support or help that might be available. She said DC Loughead had said Semina did not need to report the matter then but could do it in five years time when she was ready.

She said Semina felt they did not believe her. She said there was a change in Semina’s mental health after the visit and it had just deteriorated and the self harming was really bad.

Ms Halliwell said Semina had gone ahead with the ABE when she heard about another alleged victim of Semina’s attacker because she had wanted to stop anyone else coming to harm.

When asked about reporting the naked photo and Semina’s sexual assault to the school Ms Halliwell said she had spoken to the head of year at the school and that they had known who she was talking about (in relation to the alleged offender.)

She said she was told to call the police and nothing was said about what the school was going to do.

EVIDENCE OF CLARE HALLIWELL (MATERNAL AUNT)

Ms Halliwell said she had a good relationship with Semina from being a baby.

She said on one occasion she had been at her sister (Rachel’s) house when Semina had told her of being constantly messaged by a boy who was asking for photos which she didn’t know until later were sexualised pictures.

She said Semina had told her not to tell her mum which is something she would have to live with. She said she did not appreciate the enormity of what was happening. She said that she did not speak to Semina about it again.

She said she was present during Semina’s meeting with police and that Semina felt police did not believe here and that she was wasting their time. She felt they were lying to her and there was no point in talking to them as they were just going to try to change her mind.

At the meeting with police on 28 March she said a lot of fuss had been made over the dog and that an officer had asked Semina to switch the phone off as it felt like she was ‘taking pictures’. Ms Halliwell she was taken aback and that it was not the way to reach hearts and minds and that Semina had said ‘I’m sorry’.

She said there was a lot of talking but no engagement with Semina and that it was suggested it would be her word against his without any evidence being looked for at that point.

She said there was also reference to the administration required and questioned what relevance that would be to a 12-year-old child. She said she tried to engage with (the officers) but did not feel it was reciprocated and it was not the way she expected the conversation to happen.

She said Semina was asked what she wanted to happen and she said she wished it (the assault) had never happened. She said the officer replied ‘well it did so what else do you want?’. Ms Halliwelld said she was quite cross and she had to leave the room. She said her sister Rachel left the room as well and they both discussed how poor the meeting was.

She said as she went to go back into the room the detective stood in the way blocking her way and told her that Semina did not want to take the matter further.

She said Semina looked despondent and when she was asked if she was sure she gave an unconvincing yes. When Semina was asked how she felt she said did not want to talk about it.

She said an arrangement was made for another interview when Semina found out she was not the only victim. She said between March and June Semina became very withdrawn.

On 7 June she said she was at her sister’s house when they heard Semina’s brother had been assaulted at school. She said while at the school Semina’s alleged offender had shouted at Rachel and used offensive language.

She said the alleged offender’s brother later attended the house and kicked the door and the male’s father then attended at the address and they called police who attended and examined CCTV. She said the officers who attended were very helpful, and understanding.

When later asked about Semina at Alder Hey hospital after taking the overdose she said Semina had told the doctor she hadn’t intended to do anything and just wanted to go to sleep for a few days.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL

Mr Branston (for Merseyside Police) asked Ms Halliwell if her comments about the police officer talking about dogs and asking for Semina to turn off her phone was nothing more than an attempt to break ice or build rapport.

Ms Halliwell said there was a need for the right tone and she expected somebody in the roles they (the police officers) were in to be trained in basic behavioural science.

Mr Branston said when mention was made of her word against his was it not a reflection that there were no witnesses. Ms Halliwell said no effort was made to establish if there were other people.  She said she had been told that shop CCTV would have been deleted but she believed as it was digital nothing would be deleted.

She said it struck her as dismissive which was her impression and that of a 12-year-old.

When asked about a text message from (Rachel) to the police thanking them for their help and for saying they will speak to the male Clare asked why they would speak to the male if they were not taking the matter any further. Mr Branston clarified that there was sufficient evidence to speak to the perpetrator without Semina having to give an ABE.

When questioned by Ms Johnson, Ms Halliwell said Semina would follow the crowd and be swayed by what was said to her. Ms Halliwell said there were those who wanted to protect her and get justice and other people who tried to influence her in a different way. When asked who those ‘people’ were she said officers were trying to influence her. She said it was her impression that the thought was it was not going to be an easy case to get across the life and therefore was it really worth the effort.

She said in different circumstances Semina might have been more supportive of an investigation.  She said when Semina later attempted to contact officers to speak to them they didn’t get a response for quite a while despite ringing on four occasions.

Ms Halliwell said was incredibly disappointed that a trainee social worker, supported by someone from Early Help who was not qualified, had been allocated to Semina’s case and that they never saw the assigned social worker until Semina had gone.

Ms Halliwell said officers who came to speak to Semina about the sexual assault had failed to notice bruising on her neck (from one of the physical assaults) or taken photos of it.  Under cross examination from Mr Branston she admitted she also hadn’t pointed it out to the officers because she had been working so hard on Semina engaging with them.

She was also asked about CCTV evidence relating to the brother of the alleged offender attending at the property kicking the door and his father attending at the property and knocking on the door and that she did not fail to correct the officer in relation to which CCTV he had viewed.

The inquest resumes today (Tuesday 14 January).