Five police officers will be charged with misconduct in the alleged murder of avid rider Gracie Spinks, police said.
The 23-year-old victim was found in a field near Staveley Road in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, around 8:40 a.m. on June 18, 2021.
She is believed to have been killed by her former co-worker, Michael Selars, 35, whom she reported to Derbyshire police for harassment in February of that year.
The Independent Police Conduct Service (IOPC) said its investigation concluded that two officers had been prosecuted for misconduct in connection with the harassment investigation.
Three other officers are due to answer in the case of the discovery of a bag containing a hammer, ax and several knives near the place where Ms. Spinks died, the guard added.
The IOPC said the decisions were taken after assessing whether the forces had complied with their defense obligations to Ms Spinks and whether their investigation into the prosecution had been carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
Ms. Spinks was last seen alive by her mother at 7:30 a.m. on June 18 last year, leaving the family home in Chesterfield to drive a few miles to the Blue Lodge Farm stables in Duckmanton, where she kept her horse.
She was found unconscious with stab wounds in the stables half an hour later.
Gracie Spinks was last seen alive by her mother at 7:30 a.m. on June 18, 2021.
(Gracie’s Law / Facebook)
The body of Michael Selars of Sheffield, a former manager of Ms. Spink’s warehouse where she once worked, was found in a nearby field a few hours later.
Pathological examination suggests that his death was “self-inflicted” as a result of oxygen starvation in his body.
Toby Perkins, a Labor MP from Chesterfield, had previously called for victims of persecution to be “the highest priority of the law” after Ms Spinks’ death.
IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our investigation was thorough and took into account a wide range of evidence, and we found that five employees should be held accountable for misconduct. The forces will now hold meetings on misconduct.
“Due to an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to share any further details at this time. We will publish our findings once these procedures are completed.
“We kept Gracie’s family informed and shared the results of our investigation with them. Our thoughts remain with them before the first anniversary of Gracie’s death.
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