Caroline Flack: Met Police to reinvestigate decision to charge star with assaulting boyfriend
Police are to reinvestigate the circumstances leading up to the decision to charge Caroline Flack with assaulting her boyfriend.
The TV presenter died in February 2020, with a coroner saying she took her own life after discovering she was definitely going to be prosecuted.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended she only get a caution but this was overturned after London’s Metropolitan Police appealed.
Flack, 40, was ultimately charged with assault by beating over the incident, which involved her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, in December 2019.
Metropolitan Police has now said it’s making “further enquiries” because “new witness evidence may be available” about officers’ actions in appealing the CPS decision.
The former Love Island host’s mother told the Daily Mirror: “We won’t stop until we get the truth.
“Something very unusual happened to Carrie at the police station that night, but no one kept a proper record explaining why.
“I have now made a complaint to compel the officer to give the statement we think he should have given four years ago.
“As a family, we have been left with important unanswered questions.”
An inquest heard Flack was worried about the publicity a trial would bring. Pic: AP
Met Police said it had referred a complaint from Flack’s family to the police watchdog, the IOPC, on 7 March.
“The IOPC decided the majority of the matters had previously been dealt with and no further action was required,” said a Met statement.
“The IOPC returned one aspect of the complaint back to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) to consider further.
“This relates to the actions of officers in appealing an initial decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge Ms Flack, and because new witness evidence may be available.
“DPS officers are now making further enquiries in relation to this.”
Olly Murs (pictured with Flack in 2012) will headline the Flackstock festival in July. Pic: AP
It isn’t the first time investigations into the Flack case have been carried out.
The DPS previously found there was no misconduct, prompting another complaint from Flack’s family to the IOPC.
It also didn’t find any misconduct by the Met. However, it ordered the force to apologise for not recording its reason for appealing against the caution.
Caroline Flack’s mother rejected that apology at the time.
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The announcement of the new investigation comes as it was revealed Caroline’s former X Factor co-presenter Olly Murs will top the Flackstock festival in July.
The event in memory of the presenter is in its third year and raises money for mental health charities.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Entertainment
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The Duchess of Sussex has delayed the release of her new Netflix series due to the devastation caused by the wildfires in LA, the streaming platform has announced.
Meghan’s eight-part series, With Love, will premiere on 4 March instead of 15 January.
“I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement to Tudum, the official companion site to Netflix.
Harry and Meghan comforted volunteers and handed out food to evacuees during a visit to Pasadena on Friday, where they met with the city’s mayor Victor Gordo and emergency workers tackling the Eaton Fire.
Prince Harry and Meghan were seen comforting residents on Friday
Footage showed the duchess, wearing a blue “LA” baseball cap, and the prince hugging and consoling people who had fled to the Pasadena Convention Center.
They were also seen speaking Doug Goodwin, whose home was destroyed in the wildfires, and also to Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK) which has been helping feed the public and emergency crews.
Prince Harry and Meghan spoke to Doug Goodwin (centre right), whose home was destroyed and Pasadena mayor Victor Gordo (right) in Altadena, California. Pic: AP
A description of the Netflix series on Tudum’s website said: “Produced by Meghan, ‘With Love, Meghan’ blends practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old.
“Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection, and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected.
“She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same.”
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The royals live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles from Los Angeles.
They are understood to have donated supplies, including clothing and children’s items, to people affected by the disaster.
They released a statement on Thursday urging people to help those affected by the wildfires and to open their homes to those evacuated.
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