By Sheila Mckenzie-
Heart broken Caroline Flack’s mum Christine was in tears as her witness statement was read out in court today.
Caroline Flack ‘s bereaved mum was in tears as her powerful statement slamming the CPS was read out in court today. She slammed the CPS for their decision to prosecute her late daughter, accusing them of trying to orchestrate a ”show trial”.
The late popular British television presenter took her own life at her flat in London on February 15, days after learning her trial over an alleged attack on boyfriend Lewis was going ahead.
The former boyfriend of the ex-Love Island and X Factor host, Lewis Burton, told the inquest that Ms Flack had been hounded by the media and faced a “show trial” after being accused of Mr Burton’s assault, the court heard.
Thousands of Ms Flack’s fans signed a petition called for British Mps to establish a law banning the press from harassing celebrities. The petition never got off the ground in parliament.
Caroline Flack’s sorrowful former boyfriend, Mr Burton, said the last time he had seen Ms Flack “she was not in a good place”.
“The media were constantly bashing her character,” he said in a statement.
“[They were] writing hurtful stories… generally hounding her daily.
An inquest into her death resumed at Poplar Coroner’s Court in London today before Senior Coroner Mary Hassell. Caroline’s mum Christine attending via video link.
Prosecutors
Caroline Flack’s mother Christine, in the statement, Christine slammed prosecutors for proceeding with the criminal case against her daughter, who denied assaulting Burton during a row in December 2019.
She said: “My family and I are totally devastated.
“I believe that Caroline was let down by the authorities and by the CPS in pursuing the case.
“I believe this was a show trial.”
Caroline Flack took overdose night before court hearing in previous suicide attempt.
Handwritten Note
Caroline Flack left handwritten note to boyfriend Lewis Burton on day of her death. She said she had received a written apology from the chief crown prosecutor about comments he made about Caroline.
Christine said she felt the prosecutor was “unkind to Caroline and my family” and claimed she was “threatened with arrest” when she tried to speak to him.
She added: “I do want people to know what a lovely, kind and generous person she was. She never spoke badly of anyone.”
Caroline’s twin sister Jody also shared her heartbreak over the telly star’s death and claimed she’d previously attempted suicide the night before her court appearance in December. Caroline died in February
Discovered Body
Stephen Teasdale, father of Caroline’s friend Louise, told how he found the star’s body with her twin sister Jody.
He said: “We came to the flat and tried to force entry. We thought about phoning the police but knew the landlady… We got the key and let ourselves into the flat.”
Mr Teasdale added: “We were giving CPR for somewhere between five and ten minutes, then the police took over.”
Lewis today told how Caroline was “devastated” when he last saw her – worrying about losing her job on Love Island and not being able to see him.
In a statement read to the inquest today, he said: “The last time [I] saw Caroline she was very upset, in fact devastated, she was not in a good place emotionally.
“Sometimes she talked about taking her own life when she was extremely upset.”
TRAGIC DEATH
Caroline had pleaded not guilty to assault by beating and had strongly denied the charge, with her family and management slamming the CPS for pursuing the case.
The star’s family had increased concerns about her mental state as the trial loomed, while Mr Burton also pleaded to the CPS to drop the case.
She was declared dead at the scene and her body identified by her twin sister.
Today the coroner’s court heard no traces of alcohol were found in her system, but there was the presence of a drug used for insomnia.
Tamsin Lewis, a psychiatrist and lifestyle medical practitioner, said in a statement Caroline was distressed and had been having trouble sleeping.
She said: “She reported having panicky feelings all day… a sense of impending doom.
Image: Sky news.