Murdered teenager Louise Smith may not have received proper support due to Covid-19 restrictions, a review of her care found (Family Handouts/PA) (PA Media)
A review of her care found that the murdered teenage girl, Louise Smith, may not have received proper support due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Shane Mays, 30, from Havant Hampshire, was sentenced to life in prison and must serve at least 25 years after being convicted of killing a 16-year-old on VE Day 2020.
Louise, who was being trained as a veterinary nurse, was "brutally" killed in the Harveant Jungle, where her body was defiled and burned.
Shane Mays convicted of murdering Louise (Hampshire Constabulary/PA) (PA Media)
The Winchester Criminal Court trial heard that Louise was "vulnerable," suffering from anxiety and depression, and smoking marijuana.
After a fight with her mother, Rebecca Cooper, she moved in with Metz and his wife, Chazlin Jayne (CJ).
A review by the Hampshire Partnership for the Protection of Children revealed that Louise reported being raped by "one of her peers" a year before her death.
It also found that she did not receive enough support when Hampshire Police told her she would not take further action on the allegation.
Yellow tape representing fallen tree trunks and orange flags marking police finding Louise's body in woodland (PA) (PA file)
The commentary said that the "impact of the new crown virus" may have led to Louise not having a professional support staff when she learned about it.
The report, written by independent reviewer Jon Chapman, said the force should "review its procedures when providing findings for victims of rape and serious sexual assault."
It should also "establish a mechanism to ensure that this is done with support staff or professionals where possible".
Metz's murder trial was told That Louise had a social worker, while the commentary said a child and family assessment was underway at the time of her death because she had "moved from the home of one extended family member to another and was considered at risk of homelessness".
The review said the institutions involved in nursing Louise failed to ensure continued support as she progressed from school to university.
It said she "has gone from being a child willing to engage with professionals to a child who is disengaged in college and no longer receives the support provided".
The review found that Louise could disappoint her when police told her the alleged rapist would not face prosecution (Hampshire Police/PA) (PA Media).
It added: "As the Programme for Poor Children comes to an end, there is only limited information indicating the existence of a continuingly strong multi-agency collaborative approach, and her previous support network has dissipated. ”
Agencies should ensure a "coordinated response" to provide ongoing care and support, the report said.
In February 2021, the Court of Appeal rejected an application to increase Metz's sentence after the deputy attorney general claimed to be "excessively lenient."
Justice Davis sat with two other judges and concluded that the verdict should not be changed.