A horse trainer who was on trial accused of killing and raping a jumper has been found dead in his home while on bail.
Jonathan Creswell, 36, had denied the murder and rape of Katie Simpson. His trial began Tuesday.
The second day of the trial was due to begin today, but the jury was suddenly dismissed this morning after police reported they had found Creswell’s body. Officers said the 36-year-old man died under non-suspicious circumstances.
Londonderry Crown Court, sitting in Coleraine, heard that Creswell had previously had “illicit” sexual relations with Ms Simpson. He then became angry to learn that the 21-year-old was in a relationship with someone else.
Sam Magee KC, prosecuting counsel, told the jury that Creswell had raped, strangled and killed Mrs Simpson.
Jonathan Creswell (pictured outside court) was found dead after going on trial this week accused of killing and raping a female jumper.
The court also heard that Creswell then attempted to “cover up” what happened by claiming Ms Simpson’s death “was as a result of suicide”.
Creswell then pretended to be “the unfortunate individual” who discovered Ms. Simpson’s body, according to the prosecution.
Magee added: “The prosecution alleges that the defendant raped Katie.” He murdered her. He made efforts to cover up what she had done by trying to make her death look like a suicide. In the hours before her death he was with Katie.
“He strangled her and created a fiction, pretending to others that he found Katie hanging on a ladder.
‘He pretended to medical staff that she had taken her own life. We say he was the individual who committed an act of violent rage that took her life when she was just 21 years old.’
Katie Simpson (pictured) was found dead in August 2020 following an incident at a property near Londonderry.
Ms Simpson died on August 3, 2020 following an incident at the home Creswell shared with Katie’s sister, Christina Simpson. Creswell had been in a long-term relationship with Christina, the court heard.
A Detective Chief Inspector from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was called to the witness stand today. He said he had received information that a man had been found dead at 9am at a property in Londonderry.
“A family member confirmed it was Mr. Jonathan Creswell,” he said.
A PSNI spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Police attended the sudden death of a man at an address in the Waterside area of ​​Londonderry this morning. The death is not considered suspicious.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC told the jury the trial process was over and acquitted them.
He said the sentencing of three co-defendants who had pleaded guilty before the start of the trial would be brought forward. He adjourned the case until May 10.
The trial began at Londonderry Crown Court, located in Coleraine (pictured: Coleraine Courthouse).
Mr. Creswell’s trial was due to last between six and eight weeks.
On the first day of the trial on Tuesday, the court heard that Katie was involved in the equestrian industry and that she and her sister Christina met Creswell when he was a jockey at Darton Ree Stables in Tynan, Co Armagh.
The court heard Christina and Creswell got together and had two children. Later, Katie began working with them.
Magee told the court that Katie was in the early stages of a relationship with another man called Shane McCloskey at the time of her death and was terrified Creswell would find out about this, the Irish Mirror reported.
The sentence against the three co-accused women will now be brought forward, BBC Northern Ireland reported.
Jill Robinson, 42, of Blackfort Road in Omagh, admitted perverting the course of justice on August 3, 2020.
Hayley Robb, 30, of Weavers Meadow in Banbridge, Co Down, admitted two counts of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Rose De Montmorency-Wright of Craigantlet Road in Newtownards, Co Down, admitted withholding information between October 9, 2020 and October 13, 2021.
The 22-year-old lived with Creswell and his partner Christina, Katie Simpson’s sister at the time.