TV series to examine Katie Simpson’s death and probe that lead to showjumper’s murder trial

A new film will document the killing of Katie Simpson in Derry and features the catalogue of failings leading up to the 21-year-old’s death.

‘Death of a Showjumper will’ stream on Sky from Wednesday, July 16.

The three-part series details the shocking killing of the promising young showjumper.

Jonathan Creswell, who had been abusing her since she was a young teenager, took his own life while on trial for murder.

Sky Originals says the documentary exposes “hypocrisy, secrets and violence under the surface of a seemingly perfect and privileged world” of showjumping.

The documentary features Tanya Fowles, the Northern Ireland court reporter who challenged the PSNI’s original conclusion that Katie had taken her own life.

On August 3, 2020, an unresponsive Katie was driven part-way to Altnagelvin Hospital by Creswell. She was then transferred to an ambulance.

Creswell, who was driving Katie’s car, told paramedics and two police officers that Katie had attempted to take her own life at a house in Derry.

Police were also told by Creswell and another person that Katie had recently been injured in a fall from a horse — to account for the bruising on her body.

She died in hospital without regaining consciousness on August 10, 2020.

Creswell was eventually charged with Katie’s murder but took his own life after just one day of evidence in the case at Derry Crown Court, sitting in Coleraine.

At his trial it was alleged he had strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged herself.

The makers of the documentary said: “When Katie Simpson died unexpectedly in 2020 the majority of the horse community accepted that she had taken her own life but a local journalist questioned the official conclusion.

“Katie’s death triggered a memory of an old case she covered, a case with too many similarities to Katie’s.

“At the centre of her suspicions was Katie’s sister’s partner, an influential champion showjumper, jockey and horse trainer, Jonathan Creswell.

“Now, in this new three-part documentary series told by the investigators, Katie’s friends and family, and Jonathan Creswell’s circle, the series reveals how a secret investigation ended in a high-stakes murder trial with an ending that no one expected”.

In February Justice Minister Naomi Long announced an independent review into the case of Jonathan Creswell.

Ms Long said she wants to “identify learning” from why he was not the subject of a risk management plan by the police or other agencies.

Years before Ms Simpson’s death, Creswell was jailed for attacking his then partner Abi Lyle.

Despite a conviction for serious domestic violence, at no stage following his release from prison was he managed under Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI).

This involves the police and other agencies like the Probation Service managing risks “posed by certain sexual and violent offenders”.

The PSNI have said they “will work alongside partner agencies and fully co-operate with the review into PPANI”.

Last November the Police Ombudsman concluded that the police investigation was flawed and was hindered by the misleading working assumption adopted by a number of officers that Katie’s injuries were self-inflicted.

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