Rachel Halliwell believes her daughter Semina was failed by those who should have protected her before her overdose death.
Semina, from Southport, died in Alder Hey Hospital on June 12, 2021, three days after overdosing. She had been bullied for months, which started after an alleged sexual assault in January 2021.
On June 8, police visited Semina’s home again as she was due to give a video interview concerning the alleged rape. Around midnight on June 9, Semina went upstairs saying she “had enough” of everything. She then made videos on her phone, showing her crying and miming songs, with one video showing empty pill packets.
She was taken to Alder Hey Hospital, where she died on June 12, 2021. The inquest resumed on February 12, with the coroner declining to engage Article 2. Article 2 is about the right to life and applies when someone dies in custody or when a state body fails to protect someone.
Rachel Halliwell gave evidence, stating that police acted unprofessionally during a home visit on March 28, 2021. Officers told Semina the court case could take two years and said it was her word versus his word.
The coroner said the officers seemed uncaring but found no actual impropriety. A detective said he explained potential “pitfalls,” noting there were no witnesses to the events.
Semina had counseling in 2018 for self-harm, with these acts described as superficial. She was with mental health services until 2020, but missed phone appointments when COVID-19 started. She faced more self-harm reports in September 2020.
Autism was diagnosed in January 2021. Semina received support from social services and her school.
Her mom said Semina started self-harming, becoming sad and withdrawn, and wore clothes to hide her legs and arms. Her mom eventually noticed the self-harm, which scared her as it was out of character.
In March 2021, Semina mentioned taking pills. Her mom emailed the school stating Semina tried to kill herself via overdose. That month, Semina reported rape by a classmate, with both incidents happening that January.
Police were told of this and visited on March 24 and 28. Semina was assaulted on March 27, 2021, with this attack seen as retaliation for reporting the rape. Police knew of another rape report against the same boy, but that case was closed as the girl declined to proceed further.
Semina planned to give an interview about the rape, set for June 10, but it was canceled. She overdosed on June 9. Police had been at her house earlier because of a report.
The coroner described the night of June 8, 2021, when Semina’s brother had a fight at school with the boy who allegedly raped her, disrupting the family home. Police came to the house, and Semina soon took juice and went upstairs.
Later, she was found to have overdosed on her mom’s medication and recorded distressed videos. An ambulance took her to the hospital, and she died on June 12, 2021; the cause of death was the overdose.
The coroner decided Article 2 did not apply as Semina’s situation was unique, and it did not seem authorities knew about a risk, meaning they could not have prevented her death. Shortcomings were noted, but they could only speculate on different outcomes. She also declined to issue a future death prevention report, stating the reports satisfied her and a future death report was unnecessary.
She gave a narrative conclusion: Semina Halliwell had a complex history and her death was due to overdosing; she took her mom’s medicine in distress, but her intention was unknown.
Semina’s mother spoke after the hearing, expressing a deep range of emotions. She was very dissatisfied, feeling agencies failed to acknowledge their failures, and wanted improvements to prevent future tragedies.
Ms. Halliwell believes Semina was betrayed by her protectors. She wished for acknowledgment and will always believe this was the case. Police offered condolences, recognizing the family’s suffering. The coroner found no police failures, saying authorities couldn’t have stopped the overdose.