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| Amelia Arnold murder: Father criticises authority care | Amelia Arnold murder: Father criticises authority care |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The father of a 19-year-old woman who was murdered by her abusive boyfriend believes the authorities should have done more to help her. | |
| Jack Wall, 22, of Hadrian's Walk, Stevenage, was convicted on Friday of murdering Amelia Arnold during an argument at their home on 8 November. | Jack Wall, 22, of Hadrian's Walk, Stevenage, was convicted on Friday of murdering Amelia Arnold during an argument at their home on 8 November. |
| Ms Arnold had been trying to end the relationship, his trial was told. | Ms Arnold had been trying to end the relationship, his trial was told. |
| Laurence Arnold said Wall threatened to kill his daughter if she told of his violence. Wall will be sentenced later. | Laurence Arnold said Wall threatened to kill his daughter if she told of his violence. Wall will be sentenced later. |
| During the trial at Blackfriars Crown Court, the jury heard Wall hit Ms Arnold, a mother of one, on the head eight times using a "dumbbell-like" object, before strangling her. | |
| He took wires from his games console, tied her up in a foetal position and drove about 11 miles to Hatfield to bury her body in woodland, where it was found three days later. | He took wires from his games console, tied her up in a foetal position and drove about 11 miles to Hatfield to bury her body in woodland, where it was found three days later. |
| Wall admitted manslaughter, saying he did not intend to kill her - but the jury disagreed. | Wall admitted manslaughter, saying he did not intend to kill her - but the jury disagreed. |
| 'Kicked her' | 'Kicked her' |
| Last October, Ms Arnold saw cognitive behavioural therapist, Jayne Coulson, who told the court the verbal and physical violence had started in August 2012. | Last October, Ms Arnold saw cognitive behavioural therapist, Jayne Coulson, who told the court the verbal and physical violence had started in August 2012. |
| She said Wall threatened to snap Ms Arnold's neck in her sleep, accused her of doing things she had not done, and at one point threw a table and a pair of scissors at her. | She said Wall threatened to snap Ms Arnold's neck in her sleep, accused her of doing things she had not done, and at one point threw a table and a pair of scissors at her. |
| Ms Coulson advised the teenager to go to the Women's Resource Centre in Stevenage and also referred her to children's services. | Ms Coulson advised the teenager to go to the Women's Resource Centre in Stevenage and also referred her to children's services. |
| The jury heard that at the end of September 2012, Ms Arnold asked a housing officer at Stevenage Borough Council if Wall could be re-housed because the two-year relationship had broken down. | The jury heard that at the end of September 2012, Ms Arnold asked a housing officer at Stevenage Borough Council if Wall could be re-housed because the two-year relationship had broken down. |
| She said he had "clumped her round the head and kicked her" on two occasions, but she was too scared to report it to police. | She said he had "clumped her round the head and kicked her" on two occasions, but she was too scared to report it to police. |
| 'So scared' | 'So scared' |
| Mr Arnold said "more could have - and should have - been done". | Mr Arnold said "more could have - and should have - been done". |
| "She was so scared of this man that she was unable to tell her family how she was being treated and he threatened if she did tell anyone, especially the police, he would kill her," he said. | "She was so scared of this man that she was unable to tell her family how she was being treated and he threatened if she did tell anyone, especially the police, he would kill her," he said. |
| "No one should be treated the way my daughter was prior to her death." | "No one should be treated the way my daughter was prior to her death." |
| Hertfordshire County Council said after her daughter's birth in 2011 there were "contacts" between Ms Arnold and children's services, but there were "no concerns about the child's welfare". | Hertfordshire County Council said after her daughter's birth in 2011 there were "contacts" between Ms Arnold and children's services, but there were "no concerns about the child's welfare". |
| "Although Amelia indicated that her relationship with Jack Wall was volatile on occasions, there was no indication that either she or her child were in any danger," a statement read. | "Although Amelia indicated that her relationship with Jack Wall was volatile on occasions, there was no indication that either she or her child were in any danger," a statement read. |
| Stevenage Borough Council said it would not comment until Wall had been sentenced. | Stevenage Borough Council said it would not comment until Wall had been sentenced. |
| Det Insp John Arthur, from Hertfordshire Police, said the force understood it could be "extremely difficult" for domestic abuse victims to seek help but urged them to come forward. | Det Insp John Arthur, from Hertfordshire Police, said the force understood it could be "extremely difficult" for domestic abuse victims to seek help but urged them to come forward. |
| He said: "I would like to reassure anyone suffering this form of abuse that cases are dealt with sensitively and robustly by police." | He said: "I would like to reassure anyone suffering this form of abuse that cases are dealt with sensitively and robustly by police." |