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Joanna Michael murder: Family to learn if they can sue police | Joanna Michael murder: Family to learn if they can sue police |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The family of a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend after calling 999 for help are to find out if they can sue two police forces for negligence. | The family of a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend after calling 999 for help are to find out if they can sue two police forces for negligence. |
Joanna Michael, 25, from St Mellons, Cardiff, rang 999 twice before Cyron Williams stabbed her to death in 2009. | Joanna Michael, 25, from St Mellons, Cardiff, rang 999 twice before Cyron Williams stabbed her to death in 2009. |
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) ruled she was failed by South Wales and Gwent Police. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) ruled she was failed by South Wales and Gwent Police. |
The Supreme Court is to pass a judgement on whether the family can pursue their claim on Wednesday. | The Supreme Court is to pass a judgement on whether the family can pursue their claim on Wednesday. |
Ms Michael's family won the right to try to bring a claim for damages against both police forces in 2011, but it was thrown out by the Court of Appeal because police officers have immunity from negligence claims. | Ms Michael's family won the right to try to bring a claim for damages against both police forces in 2011, but it was thrown out by the Court of Appeal because police officers have immunity from negligence claims. |
The family have since taken their claim to the Supreme Court. | The family have since taken their claim to the Supreme Court. |
Jailed for life | Jailed for life |
On the night of the murder on 5 August 2009, 19-year-old Williams broke into Ms Michael's home and found her with another man. | |
She called 999 at 02:29 BST and told the Gwent Police operator Williams was at the house and had threatened to kill her. | She called 999 at 02:29 BST and told the Gwent Police operator Williams was at the house and had threatened to kill her. |
The call went through to Gwent Police but was passed South Wales, the force covering the area Ms Michael's address. | |
Once transferred, the call should have been graded as requiring an immediate response, but was instead graded at a lower level. | |
When officers had still not arrived, Ms Michael called 999 again at 02:43 BST and was heard screaming before the line went dead. | |
Officers arrived at 02:51 BST but in the 22 minutes it took them to respond to her first call. | |
The mother of two had been stabbed 72 times. Her children were in the house at the time. | |
Williams was jailed for life in March 2010 after admitting murder at Cardiff Crown Court. | Williams was jailed for life in March 2010 after admitting murder at Cardiff Crown Court. |