Father of Mia Janin, who took her own life after being bullied, says someone must be held ‘accountable’ for her death
The father of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life after being bullied on social media by fellow pupils at her school has said someone needs to be held “accountable” for her death.
Mariano Janin said his daughter Mia was bullied “in person and online” and that police should set up a “special division” to deal with cyber bullying against children.
Mia was found dead at her family home in Harrow, northwest London, in March 2021.
Two undated letters in Mia’s handwriting were found on her bed addressed to “her loving family and friends,” which “explained that Mia decided to end her life,” an inquest heard.
Her death came a day after she asked her parents about moving to a different school.
Giving his ruling at the inquest into her death on Friday, coroner Tony Murphy said the teenager died after experiencing “bullying behaviour” from several schoolboys.
However, he did not tell Barnet Coroner’s Court that bullying led to her death.
Mia attended the Jewish Free School in Kenton, northwest London, which acknowledged she had received hostile messages in response to a TikTok video she had posted.
Mia Janin was found dead at her home. Pic: Supplied by family
However, the school added she was never diagnosed with a mental illness nor did she present signs that she was thinking of suicide.
Speaking to Sky News after the inquest, Mr Janin said: “I would like to know what really happened with Mia… And of course, I would like to have some kind of accountability if possible.”
Asked who should be held accountable, he added: “I cannot say right now because I am just very tired, I didn’t sleep last night waiting for the conclusion.
“I think I need to relax a little bit and start to think about my next move, after a little bit more time.”
In a statement given to police after Mia’s death, one of her friends said: “[Schoolboys] took screenshots of girls’ faces on social media and made fun of them. They shared a video of Mia’s TikTok and made fun of her.
“They used girls’ faces on porn stars’ bodies to upset us.”
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Mia’s friends also told officers that one of the girl’s TikTok videos was shared to a Snapchat group chat run by male pupils at the school, where they made fun of her.
The Metropolitan Police admitted in May 2023 that it had lost significant evidence during its investigation, including a SIM card from Mia’s main phone and a second mobile handset that belonged to her.
Mr Janin said: “I will not blame the police. Maybe what we need to start to think is that we need a special division in the police to deal with this type of crime.
“She was a 14-year-old girl, not a cyber terrorist.
“And I think they should create a new department for cyber crime or cyber security oriented to young people.”
Mia Janin pictured with her mother Marisa Janin. Pic: Supplied by family
Mr Janin also lost his wife, Mia’s mother Marisa Janin, only four months after his daughter’s suicide. Mrs Janin died after developing an aneurysm and contracting leukaemia.
Following Friday’s ruling, Mr Janin described the inquest as the first step in his battle “to find justice and closure for me and what happened for Mia, and then to my wife as well.”
He said: “I will carry on with this quest for justice and in the meantime we need to do something as parents, as a society, to keep our kids safe online.”
Mr Janin described his daughter as a “beautiful girl and a really nice kind of person”. Pic: Supplied by family
Mr Janin said he still thinks about his daughter’s smile, and described her as “very bubbly and creative”.
He added: “She was beautiful. She was a beautiful girl and a really nice kind of person as well.”
The Jewish Free School has said it was unaware of the bullying Mia was experiencing online and that it had brought in changes following her death.
Dr David Moody, headteacher at the school, said after the ruling: “Whilst I was not in post at the time of Mia’s death, I can only promise that we will continue to do everything we can to embed all of the changes that have been put in place over the last three years.
“Mia remains a hugely missed member of our school community and our thoughts continue to be with the family.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Alternatively, letters can be mailed to: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS.
UK
Teenager living in ‘continuous pain’ after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out ‘inappropriate’ operations
A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon is living with “continuous” pain.
Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on both his legs were “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” for his age.
The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs.
Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias’s left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm.
A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months.
He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations.
Yaser Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence last year. Pic: LinkedIn
His doctor at London’s prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated.
Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures.
The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias “harm” and left him in constant pain.
“The pain is there every day, every day I’m continuously in pain,” he told Sky News.
“It’s not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave, it’s a companion to me, just always there.”
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Finias’s surgery pictures
Care of over 700 patients being assessed
Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022.
The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias.
“Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it’s just too much to comprehend for me,” he said.
“It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don’t really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.”
Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries
Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021.
The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries.
Dozens of families seeking legal claims
His mother Cornelia Sandu is “furious” and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims.
Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: “In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it.”
Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year.
A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: “We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted.
“We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.”
Finias with his mother and sister
Service not ‘safe for patients’
Sky News has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar.
An external review into the wider orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022.
It was commissioned after the Royal College of Surgeons warned the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service was not “safe for patients or adequate to meet demand”.
The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Sir Keir Starmer has said closer ties with the EU will be good for the UK’s jobs, bills and borders ahead of a summit where he could announce a deal with the bloc.
The government is set to host EU leaders in London on Monday as part of its efforts to “reset” relations post-Brexit.
A deal granting the UK access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table, according to reports – but disagreements over a youth mobility scheme and fishing rights could prove to be a stumbling block.
The prime minister has appeared to signal a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement is a “red line”, youth mobility does not come under this.
His comment comes after Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said on Friday work on a defence deal was progressing but “we’re not there yet”.
Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later that day while at a summit in Albania.
Ursula von der Leyen and Sir Keir had a brief meeting earlier this week. Pic: PA
If agreed, the deal will be the third in two weeks, following trade agreements with India and the US.
Sir Keir said: “First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising.
“More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.
“Tomorrow, we take another step forward, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union.”
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she is “worried” about what the PM might have negotiated.
Ms Badenoch – who has promised to rip up the deal with the EU if it breaches her red lines on Brexit – said: “Labour should have used this review of our EU trade deal to secure new wins for Britain, such as an EU-wide agreement on Brits using e-gates on the continent.
“Instead, it sounds like we’re giving away our fishing quotas, becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again and getting free movement by the back door. This isn’t a reset, it’s a surrender.”
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