Girl, 12, took deadly overdose of prescribed drugs after cops investigating her declare {that a} boy had raped her stated it was ‘her phrase in opposition to his’, mom tells inquest

A twelve-year-old girl took a fatal overdose after police officers investigating her claim that a boy had raped her said it was ‘her word against his’, her mother told an inquest today.

Semina Halliwell had been a ‘happy, normal little girl’, but the alleged sexual assault ‘completely destroyed’ her and left her fearful of leaving the house, her mother Rachel said.

She said Semina – who was autistic – was treated ‘unprofessionally’ by officers who came to discuss whether she wanted to make a formal complaint.

‘I felt like they didn’t care,’ Mrs Halliwell said. ‘It felt like it was an inconvenience for them.’

She said Semina initially hadn’t wanted to take the alleged rape in January 2021 any further.

But after learning that the same boy had allegedly sexually assaulted another girl, she changed her mind.

However while police were at the family home in Southport, Merseyside in June 2021 over an unrelated incident, Semina said ‘I’ve had enough of this’ and went upstairs.

 Tragically, she took an overdose of prescription medication.

Despite being rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where she underwent intensive medical treatment, Semina’s life support had to be withdrawn three days later, on June 12.

Today’s hearing was told that, while in hospital, Semina ‘asked if she was going to die’, and said she regretted taking the tablets.

Mrs Halliwell has given extensive media interviews about Semina’s tragic death as well as sharing updates on her fight for justice to her 21,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter.

She arrived at the hearing at Bootle Town Hall accompanied by actor turned politician Laurence Fox, who is making a documentary about the case.

Questioned by her barrister, Harriet Johnson, Mrs Halliwell said Semina had disclosed the alleged rape to her in March 2021.

She broke down and sobbed as she described how the boy had taken her daughter to woodland and sexually assaulted her.

‘It destroyed her – mentally, physically,’ she said.

‘She thought bad things about herself.

‘It just destroyed her completely.’

Mrs Halliwell said she informed Semina’s teachers at Stanley High School in Southport about the alleged rape and also subsequent physical assaults on her daughter, but they were ‘no help’.

She contacted police, but when officers attended ‘the way they spoke to her and the way they presented themselves in my view was unprofessional,’ she said. ‘It was almost like they couldn’t be bothered.’

Questioned earlier by assistant coroner Johanna Thompson, Mrs Halliwell said a male detective told Semina the case amounted to ‘her word against his’.

The comment made her feel ‘like she wasn’t believed,’ she added.

The detective also said ‘he would have to fill in all these forms’, Mrs Halliwell said, and it could take two years to go to court if she wanted to support a prosecution.

The officer also asked ‘Did she want it hanging over her head?’ Mrs Halliwell said, adding: ‘That’s not the way to speak to any victim.’

After initially deciding not to pursue her complaint, Semina later decided to go ahead after learning the same boy had allegedly attacked another girl, her mother said.

‘She said enough was enough.’

But when officers did propose a time for a video interview, it was at such short notice that Semina did not feel ready, Mrs Halliwell said.

‘You couldn’t spring something on Semina like that.’

Earlier Barnabas Branston, representing Merseyside Police, stressed that as far as officers were concerned at the time of Semina’s death, her video interview about the rape allegation was still due to go ahead.

The hearing is expected to hear evidence from the police officers involved tomorrow.

The inquest continues.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123, visit a local Samaritans branch.