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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Caroline Flack 'hit boyfriend over cheating fears', inquest hears | Caroline Flack 'hit boyfriend over cheating fears', inquest hears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Caroline Flack struck her boyfriend while he slept because she suspected he was cheating, an inquest has heard. | Caroline Flack struck her boyfriend while he slept because she suspected he was cheating, an inquest has heard. |
| The ex-Love Island host was found "covered in blood" while Lewis Burton had a head wound in December 2019. | The ex-Love Island host was found "covered in blood" while Lewis Burton had a head wound in December 2019. |
| A senior officer said a decision to bring an assault charge - after prosecutors initially pursued a caution - was not "motivated" by celebrity. | A senior officer said a decision to bring an assault charge - after prosecutors initially pursued a caution - was not "motivated" by celebrity. |
| But Ms Flack's mother Chris said if "it was an ordinary person, you wouldn't have been bothered". | But Ms Flack's mother Chris said if "it was an ordinary person, you wouldn't have been bothered". |
| Ms Flack was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, London in February, while she was facing trial accused of assaulting Mr Burton - a charge she denied. | Ms Flack was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, London in February, while she was facing trial accused of assaulting Mr Burton - a charge she denied. |
| The inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court previously heard the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had sought a caution, but withdrew it after the Met Police said it believed it was in the public interest to charge Ms Flack with assault. | The inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court previously heard the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had sought a caution, but withdrew it after the Met Police said it believed it was in the public interest to charge Ms Flack with assault. |
| A section from the police incident report was read out in court earlier, in which Ms Flack said: "I did it, I whacked him round the head like that", gesturing a swinging motion with her right hand to police. | A section from the police incident report was read out in court earlier, in which Ms Flack said: "I did it, I whacked him round the head like that", gesturing a swinging motion with her right hand to police. |
| She told officers "I hit him, he was cheating on me" and "I admit I did it, I used the phone". | |
| Based on this evidence the CPS decided to caution Ms Flack for assault, but Scotland Yard urged the CPS to seek a prosecution, the inquest heard. | |
| Det Insp Lauren Bateman told the court Ms Flack had not made it clear in a police interview later what she was admitting to. | |
| During the interview, Ms Flack said she had flicked Mr Burton "to wake him up", and did not believe she caused his injury. | During the interview, Ms Flack said she had flicked Mr Burton "to wake him up", and did not believe she caused his injury. |
| Coroner Mary Hassell suggested Det Insp Bateman was "splitting hairs" in what she considered to be Ms Flack's admission of guilt. | Coroner Mary Hassell suggested Det Insp Bateman was "splitting hairs" in what she considered to be Ms Flack's admission of guilt. |
| But the officer replied: "In my view, it wasn't a clear admission of what had happened." | But the officer replied: "In my view, it wasn't a clear admission of what had happened." |
| Det Insp Bateman said a senior lawyer had to make the final decision whether or not a caution was insufficient, and in her opinion a caution for the sort of offence was not in line with guidance. | Det Insp Bateman said a senior lawyer had to make the final decision whether or not a caution was insufficient, and in her opinion a caution for the sort of offence was not in line with guidance. |
| It was decided it was in the public interest to authorise a charge of assault by beating, particularly considering the domestic violence allegation. | |
| Mr Burton said he did not support the charge, and said Ms Flack "was not in a good place emotionally". | |
| 'You should be disgusted' | |
| At the inquest Ms Flack's mother criticised the police decision. | At the inquest Ms Flack's mother criticised the police decision. |
| She told Det Insp Bateman: "No real evidence was put forward. If it was an ordinary person, you wouldn't have been bothered. | |
| "You should be disgusted with yourself. | "You should be disgusted with yourself. |
| "That girl killed herself because you put an appeal through." | "That girl killed herself because you put an appeal through." |
| Deputy chief crown prosecutor Lisa Ramsarran said: "Caroline accepted she caused the injury. | |
| "But the explanation essentially amounted to it being an accident, which is a defence and was the disputed issue which was going to be the issue at trial." | |
| Det Insp Bateman told the inquest the decision to charge Ms Flack was "absolutely not" motivated in part by her celebrity status. | Det Insp Bateman told the inquest the decision to charge Ms Flack was "absolutely not" motivated in part by her celebrity status. |
| She said: "I would have done exactly the same if it had been anyone. | She said: "I would have done exactly the same if it had been anyone. |
| "All I can say is I was not biased and I treat everyone the same." | "All I can say is I was not biased and I treat everyone the same." |
| The inquest is due to conclude later. | The inquest is due to conclude later. |
| You can find information and support for issues raised in this article on the BBC Action Line website. | You can find information and support for issues raised in this article on the BBC Action Line website. |