Met officers probed after double homicide victims had reported killer

Four Metropolitan Police officers are being probed for misconduct after two women were murdered by a violent man they had warned the force about before they were killed.

Carl Cooper, 66, was jailed for life in July for the murders of Naomi Hunte, 41, who was stabbed in the chest, and Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found.

Ms Hunte was found knifed to death on her sofa in south-east London on Valentine’s Day in 2022, while Ms Holm, of the same area, is believed to have died on June 20 2023.

Both women had been in a relationship with handyman Cooper around a year apart and had raised concerns to police about his violence.

It has now been revealed that the Met Police is investigating four officers for misconduct in relation to a complaint Ms Holm made against Cooper for assault in April 2023.

Cooper was not charged following the attack, despite being arrested, and went on to kill Ms Holm a month later. 

Carl Cooper was jailed for life in July for the murders of Naomi Hunte, 41, and Fiona Holm, 48. Both were previously in a relationship with him and had warned police about his violence

Cooper has never revealed where the body of Fiona Holm (pictured) is. She is believed to have died in June 2023

Some eight months before she was murdered on Valentine’s Day 2022, Naomi Hunte (pictured) had warned officers that Cooper was stalking her and told them: ‘I’m really scared now.’

A review into the management of Ms Holm’s complaint concluded a more thorough investigation could have identified key witnesses, who could have provided strong evidence for a victimless prosecution against Cooper.

During the murder trial, Woolwich Crown Court heard how before she was killed, Ms Hunte had made a number of domestic callouts to police to her south-east London home in 2020 and 2021 and told them he was ‘obsessed’ with her.

In a police call-out to her home on June 29 2021, she told officers Cooper ‘stalks me’ and ‘I’m really scared now’.

She was murdered by Cooper eight months later on February 14 2022.  

Met Police Commander Paul Brogden said: ‘Our thoughts will always remain with Naomi Hunte and Fiona Holm, and we again extend our sincere condolences to their families as they continue to grieve for these two beloved women.

‘We have always been clear that we made mistakes when dealing with allegations against Carl Cooper.

‘For those mistakes we are extremely sorry.’

He continued: ‘These matters are currently the subject of several reviews led by the Met’s directorate of professional standards.

The Met Police confirmed yesterday that four of its officers were under investigation for misconduct in relation to a complaint Ms Holm (pictured) made against Cooper for assault in April 2023

Ms Hunte (pictured) was found stabbed to death on her sofa in south east London on February 14 2022

‘A senior officer from Lewisham met with Fiona’s family to discuss the review of the missing person investigation and I would like to repeat our direct and unequivocal apology for the way they were treated when they reported her missing.

‘It is a matter of enduring regret that we did not have sufficient evidence to charge Cooper sooner for the murder of Naomi.

‘Cooper has still not revealed the location of Fiona’s body.

‘We continue our enquiries to find her so that her family can finally lay her to rest.’

Sentencing Cooper in July, Mr Justice Johnson told the killer he was sure he had been a ‘great danger to women’ over the years and that he had a ‘history of acting in controlling and coercive manner to your female partners’.

The four officers are being investigated in relation to Ms Hunte’s April 2023 GBH complaint.

This was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which advised it should be a local investigation, but the watchdog will review its findings, the Met said.