Family’s relief as Lord Advocate orders probe into handling of Demi Hannaway’s death

Demi Hannaway’s violent partner, Andrew Brown, may face criminal charges in Scotland’s first ever domestic abuse-linked suicide.

The prosecution hope was raised after Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain announced a new investigation into Demi’s death during a meeting with her parents on Friday.

A team of Crown Office investigators will now scrutinise Police Scotland’s actions following her death four years ago.

New investigation

Demi’s family presented the Lord Advocate with an extensive dossier of disturbing evidence uncovered during The Post’s Justice for Demi campaign.

They are waiting to see if Police Scotland, who insist the 23-year-old took her own life in what they claim was a tragic suicide, kept the black bin bag ligature found around her neck after her death.

If the bin bag has been kept, it could now be examined properly to establish whether it carries any DNA evidence that could show who tied the knot.

The same breakthrough forensic technique was used to examine DNA evidence in knots found at the 1979 scene of what became known as the World’s End case, leading to the conviction of Angus Sinclair for the murders of Helen Scott and Christine Eadie almost 40 years after those killings.

© Supplied

Demi’s father, John, said: “In June 2021 when we first raised concern that grave mistakes were being made during the investigation into Demi’s death, we actually saw the ligature which had been around her neck. It had been placed inside sealed evidence bags stored at the police station.

“We’ve been told Police Scotland are currently searching for that evidence and will confirm whether it has been retained. If it has been retained, forensic tests to the knots could show who tied them.”

But he said even if this evidence was no longer available, the Lord Advocate had said other prosecution routes would be explored. He said: “If the ligature has not been retained, the Lord Advocate assured us her team will still consider whether there is sufficient evidence to allow the possibility of Scotland’s first prosecution over a domestic abuse-linked suicide.

“We appreciate there have only been two cases of this kind in England. Only one of those cases led to a conviction, however we are reassured by the determination shown by the Lord Advocate to ensure justice for Demi.”

Timeline

How The Sunday Post campaigned for police to reopen the investigation into the death of Demi Hannaway

The meeting was organised after we revealed how witnesses have been waiting four years to give damning evidence of the violent rages and strangulation Brown, 37, subjected her to.

Demi’s mother, Helen, said: “The Lord Advocate told us she had been alerted to our concerns by the campaign. During our meeting with her, she appeared shocked, dismayed and as disappointed as we have been over how the case was mishandled by Police Scotland from beginning to end.

“We thank the Lord Advocate for taking time to carefully listen to all our concerns, showing us the human side of the criminal justice system and taking the decision to challenge what had been presented by Police Scotland as nothing more than a tragic suicide.”

Campaign for justice

Our Justice for Demi campaign left Police Scotland facing serious questions. Helen said: “The Lord Advocate told us she believes we have been badly let down because Police Scotland immediately decided they were looking at a tragic suicide. That decision drove the direction and outcome of the case.

“The pathologist who conducted Demi’s postmortem wasn’t even informed that she was a domestic abuse victim, which meant vital tests were not undertaken.

For the last four years we have burned with injustice for our daughter. It’s been a long, harrowing journey.

“Nobody listened until The Sunday Post became our voice.”

World-renowned staged homicide expert Professor Jane Monckton-Smith said: “I’m delighted the Lord Advocate has taken the right decision. As well as applauding her for having the determination to challenge police findings in this case, it’s refreshing to learn she listened to the concerns of Demi’s family when so many families in similar situations are never heard.”

Demi Hannaway case – read more:

The Sunday Post campaign revealed police who previously attended domestic abuse call-outs to Demi failed to treat her death as a potential crime, believing the explanation of Brown that she had taken her own life.

If they had taken an immediate statement from neighbour Elizabeth Lewis, police would have discovered major discrepancies in Brown’s story indicating they were possibly dealing with a staged homicide.

We found vital witnesses had still not been interviewed in the four years since Demi’s death, extensive evidence of violent attacks and disturbing testimony from witnesses who revealed Brown had repeatedly strangled Demi, leaving her with devastating injuries which she hid from her loving parents.

Demi’s three sisters all spoke of their guilt and heartbreak because each kept promises to hide what was happening from their parents.

Major discrepancies in the timeline Brown gave to the police, his hostile reaction, initially refusing officers entry to Demi’s home, and his claims he spat on her after allegedly finding her hanged were among repeated red flags that were ignored.

Brown was eventually convicted and sent to jail for 43 months after admitting threatening and abusive behaviour.

But the predator is due out of jail soon, and Demi’s family fear for the safety of other women.