Police apology after officers insisted woman killed by violent partner died of drug overdose after sex game gone wrong

Watch: Police apologise after officers said woman strangled by partner had died in sex game gone wrong

Police have apologised and paid "substantial" compensation to the family of a woman who was choked by her violent partner – after initially claiming she died in a drug-fuelled sex game gone wrong.

The bodies of Suzanne Van Hagen, 34, and her partner John Worton, 37, were found by Van Hagen's nine-year-old daughter on 8 February, 2013.

Van Hagen's father Les, who suffered a heart attack brought on by the stress of clearing his daughter’s name, said on Friday that police treatment of his daughter's death had been "wicked and cruel" and was "an absolute betrayal of the trust we place in them".

Van Hagen's daughter dialled 999 when she found her mother's body. Paramedics arrived at the house in Worcestershire where they found the young mother lying dead in bed with Worton dead on the sofa.

Suzanne Van Hagen with her nephew (swns)
Suzanne Van Hagen with her nephew (swns) (swns)

West Midlands Police initially told the bereaved family that Van Hagen had been murdered by the fitness instructor who had then killed himself.

But the force later changed its view and issued a statement saying she died from a suspected drug overdose, after alcohol and stimulant BZP were found in her system.

Detectives said that bruising around her neck was the result of a sex game and ruled the cause of death was an accidental drug overdose.

The Van Hagen family refused to believe the police’s version of events and lodged an official complaint against West Midlands Police.

They claimed that before she died, Van Hagen had reported Worton to police on eight occasions but no action was taken.

When her younger sister said Van Hagen had been the victim of domestic abuse, a female police liaison officer replied: “Your sister had two legs and she should have used them.”

A police review in 2017 found that the Senior Investigating Officer in the case failed to make proper enquiries about marks to Suzanne’s neck.

At an inquest in 2016, a pathologist found injuries that suggested Suzanne had suffered ‘pressure to the neck’ for at least 15 seconds.

Dr Alexander Kolar said her death was most likely caused by a combination of drug and pressure on her neck.

Suzanne Van Hagen was found dead at home by her nine-year-old daughter on 8 February 2013 (swns)
Suzanne Van Hagen was found dead at home by her nine-year-old daughter on 8 February 2013 (swns) (swns)

On Friday, after eight years, police apologised and agreed to pay substantial damages.

Suzanne’s mother, Ann Van Hagen, said: “My beautiful daughter Suzanne deserves to be remembered as she was, not as this person who the police tried to portray her as.

“Suzanne was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people you could ever meet.

“She worked hard to build a career for herself so that she could enjoy a good life with her daughter. Her love for her was immeasurable."

Les Van Hagen said: “I don’t know if the police can imagine what it’s like to discover that the authorities knew your child was in danger but did nothing.

“It is an absolute betrayal of the trust we place in them. We tried to tell them our concerns, but they didn’t listen.

“It is a wicked and cruel thing to let down a family in this way.

“It makes the pain we have suffered so much more difficult to bear, because we are left with the terrible knowledge that Suzanne’s death was avoidable.

“When we were finally given access to the property where Suzanne died there was clear evidence that Suzanne had tried to escape Worton’s control.

Van Hagen's family have fought for eight years for an apology from West Midlands Police over the way her case was handled (swns)
Van Hagen's family have fought for eight years for an apology from West Midlands Police over the way her case was handled (swns) (swns)

Read More From Yahoo News UK:

Which countries are vaccinating children against COVID?

Jail for former headteacher who sexually abused teenage boy and secretly filmed children naked

Prince Andrew 'refusing to be served with sexual assault lawsuit'

“Her suitcase was in the hallway, her clothes were missing from the wardrobe, a letter she’d written detailing the abusive relationship was in her handbag and her passport was found by her car.

“The police ignored it all. To us, this all demonstrates that Suzanne was at her most vulnerable just before she was killed.

“Then, having failed to protect her while she was alive, the police added insult to injury by failing to investigate her death properly.

“She was written off in death as she had been in life.

“We have had to fight every step of the way for justice for Suzanne and have had to do the police’s job for them.

"Had we not pursued this, at great personal cost, Suzanne would have been branded a drug addict and what happened to her would have been regarded by the public as her own fault.

Chief Constable Dave Thompson of West Midlands Police apologised to the family of Suzanne Van Hagen for 'serious shortcomings' surrounding  the investigation of her murder (swns)
Chief Constable Dave Thompson of West Midlands Police apologised to the family of Suzanne Van Hagen for 'serious shortcomings' surrounding the investigation of her murder (swns) (SWNS)

"We simply could not let that happen.”

Chief Constable of West Midlands Police David Thompson said: “On behalf of West Midlands Police, I wish to apologise for a number of failings by the force in the handling of Suzanne’s case, both before and after her death, and to acknowledge the immense, additional distress that this has caused to Suzanne’s family.

“We deeply regret a number of missed opportunities to investigate Suzanne’s circumstances more widely and to engage with her. We could and should have done more to protect Suzanne and her daughter from the abuse they were suffering.

Chief Constable Thompson said the family were let down by a failure to properly investigate Suzanne’s death.

“I am deeply sorry for the many failings identified in 2017 when the Force conducted a full review of the investigation," he said.

“I particularly recognise how hurtful and distressing the inaccurate press release issued in March 2013 must have been for the family.

“This influenced the subsequent press coverage and an incorrect narrative was created about Suzanne’s death that was difficult to shift.

“We deeply regret this."

An inquest in 2014 revealed Worton was diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered paranoia and auditory hallucinations and had a history of being abusive to former partners.

A post mortem found he had taken a lethal dose of paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA), also known as Dr Death or Pink Ecstasy.

Suzanne’s family finally proved she was killed by Worton after successfully appealed for a Domestic Homicide Review with the help of the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA).

Watch: Police appeal for information after shooting leaves man with 'life-changing injuries'

Advertisement