Girl, 12, 'groomed online was raped and beaten 3 times' before she took her own life
Share:
A 12-year-old girl was groomed online, raped and beaten up three times before she took her own life, her grieving mother has claimed. Semina Halliwell, who had autism, died on June 12, 2021 after spending four nights in hospital. An inquest into her death is opening at Bootle Town Hall today. The girl's mum, Rachel Halliwell, said Semina alleged she was raped by an older boy who attended the same school as her, after he groomed her over Snapchat into secretly meeting him.
Rachel contacted Merseyside Police after her daughter told her what had happened following an incident of self-harm. However, two family members who were present during police interviews claimed officers "made Semina feel like she was an inconvenience to them." No charges have been brought against the alleged perpetrator, who Semina named.
Speaking to Sky News, Semina's mother and her aunt Clare Halliwell claimed the lead detective "sat there and started talking about all the forms he'd have to fill in if she made the complaint and how long it would take him to fill those forms in." Clare said the detective "said to Semina that, you know, basically, it's your word against his and do you really want this hanging over your head for 18 months, because it wouldn't go to court for 18 months to two years.".
The heartbroken mother and aunt said Semina's autism had made it difficult for her to express herself to strangers, and claimed that the police's response only exacerbated this. According to the family, the police force didn't inform Semina's school of the reported rape, which meant no safeguarding measures were put in place and the girl was forced to stay at home as she was not protected from coming into contact with the alleged perpetrator.
