Record of Inquest: Semina-Mary Halliwell

Following the inquest into the death of Semina Halliwell the Assistant Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens, Johanna Thompson, has this afternoon concluded that Semina Halliwell had a complex social history, her death arose as a consequence of her taking her mother’s prescription medication in distress, and her intent at that time is unknown. She also stated that there was no suggestion of any systemic breach on the part of Merseyside Police and she added there was no evidence authorities could have prevented Semina’s death by overdose.

We would like to express our thoughts and condolences to Semina’s mum and family. No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child and we can only begin to try and understand their suffering following her death.

 

The full findings as recorded by Johanna Thompson, Assistant Coroner, are below:

Record of Inquest

Following an Investigation commenced on the Twenty-Second June 2021;

And an Inquest opened on the Fifth October 2022;

And an Inquest hearing at Bootle Town Hall Court Room 2, on the Thirteenth February 2025, heard before Johanna Thompson, Assistant Coroner, in the coroner’s area of Sefton, St. Helens and Knowsley.

The following is the record of the inquest (including the statutory determination and, where required findings) –

1. Name of the deceased (if known) Semina-Mary HALLIWELL
2. Medical cause of death:

I(a) Colchicine Toxicity

(b)

(c)

(d)

II

3. How, when and where, and for investigations where section 5(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 applies, in what circumstances, the deceased came by his or her death: (see note (ii)):

Semina was born on 18th November 2008. She was referred to children’s mental health services in 2018 due to concerns over her presentation by health professionals at that time, including reported self-harm and an eating disorder. She was subsequently seen in November 2019 by a mental health practitioner and was given appropriate support, initially in face-to-face meetings. She was not deemed to have an eating disorder, and her self-harm was classified as superficial. She remained under the mental health services for treatment including follow up meetings in 2020. As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, telephone appointments were offered but not attended by Semina between April and September 2020. Semina was re-referred to mental health services due to further reported incidents of self-harm in September 2020. She received a psychiatric assessment and was not found to have any diagnosed mental health condition. She was also referred for an autism assessment, and she was diagnosed with this condition on 21st January 2021.

Semina received support from other professionals in addition to those concerned for her health. These included her school and social services. She was looked after by her mother and had wider family living nearby. Semina had previously been a primary school pupil up to the end of the summer term in 2020. During her final year at primary school, she began to use a mobile telephone and was able to access social media. She started senior school in September 2020. She had been assessed as requiring support from the school pastoral team due to information which had been provided by her last school which had relayed difficulties with some lessons and anxiousness. She was reported to have performed well at her new school during the first term leading to Christmas 2020.

A second national lockdown commenced at the beginning of January 2021, and Semina undertook her education at home on-line. She reported difficulties in learning remotely and was provided with the opportunity to physically attend school from 25th January 2021, shortly after her autism diagnosis, on three

 

days during the week. Semina’s mother became concerned that she was displaying sexualised behaviour during January 2021. This information was shared by her in part with Semina’s mental health practitioner on 15th January 2021, and in part with the school on 29th January 2021, and Semina’s mother was given advice on how to manage these issues.

In early March 2021, Semina reported that she had taken four omeprazole tablets which had been prescribed to her mother who she told about this subsequently on or around Saturday 13th March 2021. On this occasion Semina also disclosed an allegation of having been subjected to oral rape on two separate occasions by an older boy who attended the same school. Her mother contacted the school about this on 15th March 2021, and was advised to report matters to the police.

Semina next informed her mother that she had been assaulted by some girls at the behest of the alleged perpetrator on 18th March 2021. Semina’s mother submitted a complaint to the police regarding the allegations of sexual assault on 21st March 2021. In response to this, a specially trained officer visited Semina on 24th March 2021. Semina indicated that she did not wish to proceed with her complaint at that stage. Semina’s mother further contacted the police on 27th March 2021 to say that Semina was willing to undergo an ABE (achieving best evidence) interview, and arrangements were put in place by the police for this to be dealt with. On 28th March 2021, a police force visit to Semina took place with the same specially trained officer and an investigating detective. Semina declined to proceed with an ABE on this visit. The police made a referral to children’s social care. On 31st March 2021 a multi-agency safeguarding hub determined that Social Services Early Help, which was already in place for Semina, together with her existing support network, was to continue.

Further safeguarding concerns were raised in relation to Semina on 16th April 2021 when she relayed to her Early Help worker in a meeting at school that she had had sex with another boy at her home earlier that month. A strategy meeting took place on 21st April, and it was determined that Children’s Social Care was to complete a child and family’s assessment under section 17 of the Children’s Act 1989. Semina was reported by her mother at that stage to have stopped self-harming, but she remained concerned for her wellbeing. The student social worker to whom Semina had been assigned visited her for an assessment visit the following week, and a planning meeting took place on 12th May 2021. At this meeting an action plan was put in place to further support Semina.

Semina reported to the police that she had become aware of another victim of the boy who had sexually assaulted her and told them that she wished to proceed with her complaint on 13th May 2021. She again decided not to do so on being told by the police that the other victim had declined to prosecute.

The police were contacted again on 29th May 2021 with confirmation that Semina again wanted to proceed with her complaint and would undergo an ABE interview. This was arranged for 10th June 2021. The family continued to receive support from social services throughout May 2021, including a referral to RASA (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support), and to a positive parenting programme. A child in need plan had been completed by the end of May and was awaiting authorisation.

On 8th June 2021 there was an altercation between Semina’s brother and the alleged perpetrator of her sexual assault at school. This developed into further disruption at the family home that same evening which the police were called upon to attend. Semina went upstairs to her bedroom and was seen to return downstairs to take some orange juice to her room. She was discovered later in the early hours of that night to have taken an overdose of her mother’s prescription medication, colchicine. She recorded videos of herself on her phone at the time of taking the medication which demonstrate her to have been in a state of distress. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool. She received emergency treatment but despite the efforts of hospital staff, her life could not be saved, and she sadly died there on the 12th June 2021 as a consequence of the overdose she had taken.

4. Conclusions of the coroner/jury as to the death: (see notes (i) and (ii): Narrative Conclusion - Semina Halliwell had a complex social Her death arose as a consequence of taking an overdose of her mother’s

prescription medication whilst in a state of distress and her intent at that time is unknown.

5. Further particulars required by the Births and Deaths registration Act 1953 to be registered concerning the death:

1.     Date and place of birth: Eighteenth November 2008 Ormskirk
2.     Name and Surname of deceased: Semina-Mary HALLIWELL
3.     Sex: Female	4.     Maiden surname of woman who has married:
5.     Date and place of death: Twelfth June 2021 Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, East Prescot Road, Liverpool, Merseyside
6.     Occupation and usual address: Daughter of Loizos IRAKLEOUS, Joiner and Rachel Rebecca HALLIWELL, Full-time mother   15 North Road, Southport, Merseyside

Signature of coroner (and jurors):

Signature of Johanna THOMPSON, Assistant Coroner