Reading the death of Mrs A: a serious case review
| Date | 12 October 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-12-2014-0038 |
| Published date | 12 October 2015 |
| Pages | 321-330 |
| Author | Marian Foley,Ian Cummins |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
Reading the death of Mrs A: a serious
case review
Marian Foley and Ian Cummins
Dr Marian Foley is a Senior
Lecturer at the Department of
Social Care and Social Work,
Faculty of Health, Psychology
and Social Care, Manchester
Metropolitan University,
Manchester, UK.
Ian Cummins is a Senior
Lecturer at the Salford
University, Salford, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purposeof this paperis to report the main themesidentifiedinto the Serious CaseReview (SCR)
produced by Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) regardingthe suicide of Mrs A in January 2013.
Design/methodology/approach –A case study approach isused to examine the SCR. The paper links the
findings of the SCR with the broader literature, which has examined the experiences of witnesses and
complainants in cases of sexual violence.
Findings –The report emphasises that support for witnesses in historic sexual assault cases has improved
but there are still significant gaps in provision. In particular, the systems need to support witnesses for longer
after giving evidence. Mental health services need to be more aware of the potential impact of Court cases on
victims of sexual violence. The case also highlights the potentially devastating impact of the media reporting of
evidence given by victims in rape cases.
Practical implications –The authors hope that a wider consideration of the circumstances of this case will
lead to a greater focus on the needs of victims in cases of historic rape and other sexual assault cases. The
SCR highlights that the provision of support for women giving evidence in sexual abuse cases is patchy. Such
cases raise very serious ethical issues including the question of how to use the special measures that exist to
support vulnerable or intimidated witnesses.
Originality/value –The paper brings together a number of themes in the wider literature and links them to
current practice. It also uses a case study approach to exploring the implications for women, in cases of
historical sexual abuse, of giving evidence in Court proceedings.
Keywords Criminal Justice System, Suicide, Childhood sexual abuse, Serious Case Reviews, Rape,
Vulnerable witnesses
Paper type Case study
Introduction
The publication of the Serious Case Review (SCR) into the suicide of Mrs A (Brown, 2014) revealed
once again the stark realities of how difficult it can be for a victim of a sexual offence to stand and
testify against an accuser in Court. Keir Starmer, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, has
described the system as “barely fit for purpose for victims”(The Guardian, 2 April 2014). Mrs A took
her own life in January 2013 having given evidence against Michael Brewer. Brewer was a music
teacher at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. He was subsequently found guilty of a series
of sexual offences against Mrs A that were committed when she was 14 and 15. His ex-wife was
also found guilty of indecently assaulting Mrs A when she was 18. Mrs A was a gifted violinist and
Brewer a music teacher at the prestigious –but clearly troubled –Chetham’s. Brewer was able to
use his high status, reputation and regular access to one-on-one tuition to isolate and exploit his
victims. Mrs A disclosed the abuse to a friend in 2011. The friend contacted the police as she was
concerned that Brewer was still working as a music teacher and was in a position to groom other
young women. On sentencing, the judge described Brewer as a “predatory sex offender”.
Received 3 December 2014
Revised 18 May 2015
26 June 2015
Accepted 14 July 2015
DOI 10.1108/JAP-12-2014-0038 VOL. 17 NO. 5 2015, pp. 321-330, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 32 1
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