Murder and More ***This episode is brought to you by PodGo, the easiest way to monetise your podcast. Kathy McAteer, the independent chair of the review, said at the time: "While there was no evidence that Gemma's murder could have been prevented or predicted, if she had received and accepted better support she may have lived a better life and been less likely to fall into the company of people who presented serious risks.”. [1] All five perpetrators originated from Rugby. Twenty-seven year old Gemma Hayter’s body was found on 9 August 2010 on a disused railway line in Rugby. [3] The perpetrators also hit her with a mop. “I said, ‘Why are you going to Coventry? The Warwickshire authorities wrote a serious case review concluding that Hayter had been at risk and suggested that relevant agencies exchange details to prevent similar incidents from happening. [4], The attack began the next day when Hayter visited Booth's residence. Their tests indicated that Gemma did not have a 'significant' learning disability. It was while living in the flats that Gemma fell in with the crowd who eventually killed her. The next day, having put up with abuse from the group the night before, Gemma visited Chantelle’s house to pick up some belongings. I need my independence,” she wrote. “Gemma would have been breathing a sigh of relief,” says Nikki. Her family feel she was effectively ignored by the educational, medical and care services. Gemma’s family had tried, increasingly desperately, to seek help for her ever since she was young. A referral for a serious case review was made by Warwickshire County Council Adult Health and Community Services on 1st September 2010. “As a family, we’ve asked for help ever since Gemma was little,” says Nikki. In August 2010 the body of 27 year-old Gemma Hayter was found, tortured and naked on a disused railway line in Rugby, Warwickshire. “She couldn’t seem to comprehend that stealing was wrong, because she was doing it for her friends,” Fran says. LCC alumna and MA Documentary Film graduate, Holly Cocker, was recently awarded Best Single Documentary at the RTS Midlands Awards, an event celebrating some of the leading lights of the broadcast industry.. Holly was recognised by the Royal Television Society for her poignant BBC Three documentary, 'Gemma: My Murder', which pieces together the life of Gemma Hayter – a young woman … Members broke her nose, forced her to drink urine, and threw her body against a radiator. The day before Gemma was murdered, she was spotted outside a garage near her council flat with two people she considered friends: Daniel Newstead, 19, and Chantelle Booth, 21. In the end, though, nothing can change Sue’s memory of her daughter. Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Partnership, 2011. Later that night, Gemma went to a pub with Chantelle, Daniel, Jess, Joe and Duncan but, after Gemma jokingly told a bouncer one of the group was only 16, Chantelle turned on her, pushing her down the road. Gemma: My Murder. Hayter's parents believed that local authorities had not done enough to care for her. [1], As a child Hayter was found to be autistic. “Could we have prevented it? The judge - using legislation relating to disability hate crime - made an example of them, handing out longer than expected sentences. View the profiles of people named Gemma Hayter. I’ve done nothing to these people.’ She was probably in a hell of a lot of pain.”. When she was young, Gemma underwent test after test after test - but they all came back without any firm results. “She had a very kind heart. “She was probably thinking, ‘What on Earth is going on? “They thought everything was fine. But police soon apprehended the group and, at trial, they were found guilty, receiving sentences ranging from 13 to 21 years. “They pretty much tortured her for several hours,” says Gemma’s sister Nikki, who is intimately familiar with the difficult details of the case. Out Now; BBC Three; In August 2010 the body of 27 year-old Gemma Hayter was found, tortured and naked on a disused railway line… [ Read more] Three people were found guilty of her murder. “And, as a family, we would have known more about what she was doing and who she was spending her time with. Trump in Tweets. So for her to die in such a… it’s just… everything about it is horrible. She was very vulnerable. Source:https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-m5bin-b7a76bDo you really know who your friends are? I don’t think so. It was only when Gemma was 14 that she was finally given a place at a local special school. “One of the most maddening parts of my time with Gemma was the fact that we knew she couldn’t do anything that the other kids could do,” says sister Nikki. Gemma was a vulnerable adult … Gemma was diagnosed with autism when she was younger but, when she was tested again as an adult, a psychologist disagreed, leaving her without specialist support and, according to her family, Gemma demanding her independence. Two people who, along with Joe Boyer, 17, Jessica Lynas, 18, and Duncan Edwards, 19, would later be found guilty in her killing. Meanwhile, in 2017 police revealed that there has been an increase in cases of ‘cuckooing,’ when criminals target vulnerable people, like Gemma, in their homes to store drugs. “I saw her and asked her what she was doing,” recalls family friend Fran Cutts. Gemma was taken down onto a railway bank which, had the group turned left, would have led to her home and to safety. A serious case review was conducted by an independent panel who found a number of opportunities to help Gemma had not been taken. It was only Gemma. And problems related to ‘mate crimes’ - especially against vulnerable people like Gemma - are only getting worse. You know your own child and if you think something’s wrong, it’s probably wrong. “She was such a character from the minute she was born,” remembers Sue. Release date: 04 Jan 2018. “I’d tell other parents in my position to go with your gut instinct. The five people who caused her death have been prosecuted three of whom are serving sentences for murder and two for manslaughter. I didn't give birth to a baby'. And the trial highlighted numerous failures in Gemma’s care. Twenty-seven year old Gemma was a vulnerable adult who was known to a number of agencies throughout her life. Their minimum tariffs are respectively 20, 21, and 18 years. Her most recent diagnosis, according to the report, was of a Conduct Disorder. Sue knew though, from an early age, that Gemma was developing differently from her other two children - and from any other children she knew. [6], A documentary was made about her murder, titled "Gemma, My Murder", from BBC Three. Gemma: My Murder tells the story of the vicious and senseless killing of 27-year-old Gemma Hayter, who was found dead and naked on a disused railway line, having been tortured, in … After leaving Gemma to die, one of the perpetrators - Jessica Lynas - used a Facebook status to try to deflect from her own involvement. Read about our approach to external linking. Gemma Hayter was a woman who was murdered in Rugby, Warwickshire, England on the 8th of August 2010. Revisiting the site of her daughter’s death, Sue says, “It’s a horrible place to lose your life in the middle of the night. Nikki adds, through tears: “The whole thing is just so sad. "Over the years you treated Gemma Hayter … As a result her nose was broken. [1] Hayter's body was found on 9 August 2010. Despite numerous assessments, the relevant […] Detective Chief Inspector James Essex, who led the murder investigation, said: 'Gemma Hayter was killed in a brutal attack at the hands of five people, three … She shared her chaotic flat in a tower block with a hamster and a noisy cockatiel called Jasmine and she would talk to every dog or cat that came her way. Gemma told her she was heading to Coventry with the pair. [4] Both Newstead and Booth asked her to place illegal drugs in her flat and to steal items for them. Hayter had formed friendships with all five. Gemma Hayter, 27, was found dead on a disused railway line in Rugby in Warwickshire on 9 August 2010. And I certainly don’t think she would have been out and about at that time of night [when she died].”. And she believed them. [2] Otherwise Hayter had never been formally diagnosed with a learning disability, but her family suspected she had one. Disability Hate Crime: ‘Don’t Hate Us!’ documentary ~ The Tonight Programme Broadcast Thurs 23rd August 2012 ITV1 ... Sue’s daughter Gemma Hayter was 27 and had learning difficulties when she was murdered in 2010 by a group of five of her so-called friends. The story of Gemma’s viciously cruel murder by people she thought were friends - and the consistent failings of authorities to step in to help her - raised serious questions about the treatment of vulnerable adults at the time. Gemma Hayter case review finds chances were missed to protect her This article is more than 9 years old. Royal Television Society: Best Single Documentary 2019 In August 2010 the body of 27 year-old Gemma Hayter was found, tortured and naked on a disused railway line in Rugby, Warwickshire. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, information about help and support is available here. ‘Only got to get around the corner.’”. 'In Pupil Referral Units teachers have more time for you', Every question you ever had about female ejaculation, answered, Zara McDermott: 'Revenge porn still affects me today', 'I was utterly devastated': Veronica Green on the end of her Drag Race UK journey, Influencer: 'Why I stopped working with Klarna', social care and housing staff working closer together, information about help and support is available here. I was called an attention seeker. Gemma was a vulnerable adult … On that railway bank, the group put a bin liner over Gemma’s head, stabbed her once in the back and stamped on her head, leaving the distinct outline of a footprint. She singled out Booth, of Rugby – who had described Miss Hayter as her best friend – as a "nasty piece of work". 1.2.2. “And yet nobody took her out of her regular school and put her somewhere else. Documentary looking into a 2012 acid attack on Naomi Oni. [4] The BBC wrote that the sentences were "longer than expected". Gemma Hayter had learning difficulties and had gone to a special school, but was treated "like a toy" by Booth, said the appeal judge. According to the Home Office, hate crimes against disabled people have risen by over 300% between 2011 and 2018. But despite going to the special school, Gemma still had no diagnosis, which meant her family struggled to get her the right support. But they wouldn’t listen. Booth was angered when Hayter had made a joke about one member of the group being 16 years old when they visited a pub and attacked Hayter. As she reached adulthood, no one was able to give her the lasting support she needed. Her life was just so shit all along. “‘Only got to get round the corner,’ she would have been thinking. It didn’t matter. “Her head was bounced off a big industrial-style radiator, because all of her blood was up the radiator and up the wall.”. “For a long time she didn’t fit any criteria so the answer was just, 'she’s not this'. Gemma Hayter was born on the 13th of September 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire. Warwickshire Safeguarding Adults Board (WSAB) commissioned a panel to undertake a Serious Case Review (SCR) following the murder of Gemma Hayter, a young woman with learning disabilities, on 9th August 2010. I’m looking after them. Hayter's parents believed that local authorities had not done enough to care for her. “They got some cans of beer, urinated into one of them and made Gemma drink from the can,” says Lead Investigator James Essex, from Warwickshire Police. The body of 27-year-old Gemma Hayter was discovered by a jogger at a disused railway line in Rugby on 9 August 2010. She was always wanting cuddles.”. Examining how Trump used Twitter to change the face of US politics. “I would like a job. The family of disabled murder victim Gemma Hayter are still demanding answers - and her mum has been left penniless in her pursuit for the truth. Gemma Hayter was brutally murdered by people she thought were her friends - now her family are speaking out about her death and the failings in her care. Joe Boyer, 18, was part of a gang who killed 27-year-old Gemma Hayter. It was considered by a multi-agency meeting chaired by the Chair of the Partnership and accepted on 28th … “Everyone on the autistic spectrum is different and as a family it was so hard to cope. And it’s this lack of support which, according to Kathy, might have led to Gemma becoming a victim of so-called ‘mate crime,’ when people are abused or bullied or harassed by those they consider to be their friends. In the flat, Gemma’s nose was broken and she had masking tape wrapped around her face. “It’s not unusual in cases like Gemma’s where people are living in the community - [who] may be quite isolated and not necessarily receiving services - become involved in relationships with people who don’t have their best interests at heart,” she says. Her murder and the abuse that she suffered beforehand were truly abhorrent, committed by people she believed to be her friends. [1], The Warwickshire authorities wrote a serious case review concluding that Hayter had been at risk and suggested that relevant agencies exchange details to prevent similar incidents from happening. “She was very, very loving. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop it,” adds Gemma’s sister Nikki, her voice cracking and tears rolling down her face. The serious case review into Gemma's death pointed out that she suffered from “a range of physical health conditions and her appearance has been described as being suggestive of a congenital disorder, genetic syndrome or birth defect, though all clinical tests for such conditions have been negative.”. [1] When she was an adult an evaluator determined she was not autistic. What they did was fine. Key agencies in Warwickshire have pledged their determination to work together on the lessons learned from the Serious Case Review into the tragic death of Gemma Hayter. undertake a Serious Case Review (SCR) following the murder of Gemma Hayter, a young woman with learning disabilities, on 9th August 2010. “I think if she’d had assisted living, they could have possibly escorted her wherever she wanted to go and assisted her in daily life,” says Nikki. “Gemma would put up with any level of abuse as long as the person acknowledged that she was a friend.”. The group removed her clothes and attempted to ignite them. Serious Case Review: the Murder of Gemma Hayter. … https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/751ddfd4-2b7a-4f3f-9a07-2f2ec29c985a 20 January 2015. [3] Edwards and Lynas received manslaughter convictions; both were 19 at the time of their sentencing. I don’t know how she kept slipping through the net because she was quite obviously struggling.”. Family friend Fran Cutts, who also appears in the documentary, told how Gemma was being forced to … Fran says: “And when I asked her about it, she kept saying, ‘No, they’re presents. [3] Duncan Edwards and Jessica Lynas also conspired in the murder. Gemma Hayter loved animals. The shocking story of Gemma, a young woman with a learning disability who was abandoned by the system and brutally murdered by people she thought of as friends. [3], Newstead, Booth, and Boyer were 20, 22, and 18 at the time of their sentencing to life imprisonment. Gemma wouldn’t have wished harm on anybody.”, Gemma: My Murder is available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 8 May. They then stripped her naked and left her lying there face down, taking her clothes and trying to set them alight. “We wanted her to be independent but we wanted someone there to help her - and if she’d have got [support] at 25 she wouldn’t have died.”. Horrendous. But, instead, they turned right. Gaming and Me: Connections, Identity and Support, 'What baby? And even though they did that to her, I’m quite sure that if she survived it, she would have forgiven them. “But I kept going back because I knew something was wrong - you do that for your children. Horrendous.”. “Wants 2 knw wat happend on hilly road... is it true they found a body?” she wrote. Now, Gemma’s family and friends are speaking out in a new documentary to tell her story and to ask why more wasn’t done to protect this vulnerable young woman. My dad's a sex offender. The whole authority is sorry about what happened,” says Warwickshire Councillor Les Caborn. Two years before her death, Gemma wrote a letter to authorities asking for assistance in getting a job, with personal hygiene and looking after herself. But then somebody else would come along that would say, ‘No, she doesn’t tick that box so she can’t be that.'”. Gemma herself asked for help before she died. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there and that I couldn’t save her this time.”. In the last 10 years of Gemma’s life, her situation was looked at 168 times by agencies including Adult Social Care, Rugby Housing Department, West Midlands Ambulance Service, GP and Primary Care Services and Community Health Services. But what Gemma thought would be a quick visit turned into an hours-long, brutal assault that would eventually result in her murder. Kathy McAteer, the chairperson of a commission investigating the circumstances of the murder, was paraphrased by Harvey Day of BBC Three as stating that the case was a "mate crime". [2], Hayter, 27 at the time of her death, was severely beaten and tortured by Daniel Newstead, Newstead's girlfriend Chantelle Booth, and Joe Boyer. The review identified that there had been 23 missed opportunities between 2001 and the time of Gemma’s death, and nine opportunities in the year before she died. “On the first day I went to court, I sat up in the gallery and they started reeling off what happened to her,” says Nikki. Authorities now say there are steps in place to prevent a story like Gemma’s from happening again. There should have been places available with fully trained staffed - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gemma meant absolutely nothing.”, “I don’t know what she could have been thinking,” adds sister Nikki. “It was one of the worst days of my life. A Home Office pathologist has outlined more than 50 injuries he found when he examined the head, face and body of Rugby woman Gemma Hayter. '” says Fran, who then discovered that Gemma, in fact, was stealing things for them. She was considerate, very loving and kind. That’s what Sue Price tells BBC Three about how she fought for her daughter Gemma Hayter who, after decades of being turned away by social services despite repeated pleas for help, was found - tortured and naked - on a disused railway line in Rugby, Warwickshire, in August 2010. Fran also discovered that Gemma had been convinced to store drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine, in her flat. This is a tragic case of what can happen to a person with mental health challenges if they fall into the hands of a gang of malevolent neurotypical youths. [4] For a period they locked her into a toilet. Her murder and the abuse that she suffered beforehand were truly abhorrent, committed by people she believed to be her friends. She began attending a special school at age 14, the first time that such an institution had given her an enrollment space. Gemma Hayter died alone." The mentally and physically disabled victim was stripped and battered on a disused rail line. “And authorities need to treat these cases as individuals and deal with them accordingly.”. The sentencing for all five occurred at Old Bailey. “From social services or teachers or the hospital or the doctor or whoever. Throughout her life, Gemma’s mother had fought with social services and the medical profession to get a diagnosis for the learning disability that Gemma so clearly had. Or 'she might be this'. The five people responsible for her death included Chantelle Booth, a young woman who Gemma had previously described as her “best friend”. She really could not judge a bad person if you put them in front of her.”. ', “She was so innocent in her outlook on people. “She had learning difficulties. I needed help.”. Can people like him change? Gemma’s family long suspected she had a learning disability, but she was without a formal diagnosis. [2], "The Story Of Gemma Hayter's Brutal Murder Is Hard To Hear, But We Have To Listen", "Three jailed for life for 'vile' murder of disabled woman", "Gemma Hayter murder: three of disabled woman's 'friends' jailed for life", "Gemma Hayter murder: Three jailed for life", "Gemma Hayter case review: Family criticises care", Serious Case Review - The Murder of Gemma Hayter 9, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Gemma_Hayter&oldid=1010196162, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 March 2021, at 07:52. [5], The group took her out of the residence and told her she was going to her residence, but they instead took her to a railway bank where the group put a bin liner on her head, stomped on her body, and stabbed her in the back once. Between the ages of 13 and 19, Gemma had 29 contacts with learning disability services. The five people who caused her death have been prosecuted three of whom are serving sentences for murder and two for manslaughter. Hayter had asked the local government for assistance with employment and her general welfare. A referral for a serious case review was made by … Join Facebook to connect with Gemma Hayter and others you may know. ", “All I could think was, ‘Why? “We are sorry. “That’s why I kept going back to the authorities and humiliating myself. The naked corpse of Gemma Hayter, 27, was found dumped by an abandoned railway line in August 2010 despite repeated requests for social services to … The group then walked Gemma all the way through Rugby town, telling her they were walking her home. Gemma’s body was found on 9 August 2010 on a disused railway line in Rugby. Twenty-seven year old Gemma Hayter’s body was found on 9 August 2010 on a disused railway line in Rugby. And the review into Gemma’s death said that a number of steps had been taken, including a review of adult social care, improved staff training, social care and housing staff working closer together and further support for people with autism.