Horse trainer on trial for rape and murder of showjumper found dead at home
The trial was due to last six to eight weeks.
A horse trainer on trial for raping and killing a showjumper has been found dead.
Jonathan Creswell, 36, had denied the murder and rape of Katie Simpson when his trial started on Tuesday.
Police confirmed Creswell died in non-suspicious circumstances.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said: ‘Police attended the sudden death of a man at an address in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry this morning, April 24.
‘The death is not being treated as suspicious.’
Judge Neil Rafferty KC told the jury that the trial process, which had expected to last six to eight weeks, had concluded and discharged them.
Londonderry Crown Court heard how Creswell had ‘illicit’ sexual relations with Ms Simpson.
He became angry when he learnt Ms Simpson was in a relationship with somebody else.
Sam Magee KC for the prosecution said Creswell raped, strangled, and killed Ms Simpson on August 3 2020 at his home he shared with Ms Simpson’s sister Christina Simpson.
Creswell had been in a long-term relationship with Christina.
Ms Simpson was involved in the equestrian industry and she and her sister Christina met Creswell when he was a jockey at Darton Ree Stables in Tynan, Co Armagh.
Christina and Creswell then got together and went on to have two children. Katie later began working with them.
Ms Simpson was in the early stages of another relationship with another man called Shane McCloskey at the time of her death.
The court heard how Creswell tried to ‘cover up’ what happened by claiming Ms Simpson died from suicide by claiming he found her.
Mr Magee said: ‘It is the prosecution case the defendant raped Katie. He murdered her. He made efforts to cover up what he had done by trying to make her death look like a suicide. In the hours leading up to death he was with Katie.
‘He strangled her and created a fiction, pretending to others that he found Katie hanging in a stairwell.
‘He pretended to medical staff that she had taken her own life. We say he was the individual who did an act of violent rage which took her life at the age of just 21.’
The judge said three co-accused who pleaded guilty before the beginning of the trial would have their sentencing brought forward and adjourned until May 10.
Jill Robinson, 42, from Blackfort Road in Omagh, admitted perverting the course of justice on August 3 2020.
Rose De Montmorency-Wright, 22, from Craigantlet Road in Newtownards, County Down, admitted withholding information between October 9 2020 and October 13 2021.
She lived with Creswell and Christina at the time.
Hayley Robb, 30, from Weavers Meadow in Banbridge, County Down, admitted withholding information and two charges of perverting the course of justice.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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