Family of tragic mum and son demand face-to-face showdown with woman who filed false rape claim which triggered suicides
Jay Cheshire hanged himself following a police probe and his mum was found hanged two weeks ago
THE FAMILY of a mother and son who took their own lives after a false rape allegation have pleaded to meet his accuser saying “We deserve answers.”
Student Jay Cheshire, 17, hanged himself last year following a police probe into the alleged sex attack.
His accuser dropped the claims after two weeks but the Southampton family feared he would still be branded a rapist.
Tragic Jay’s mother Karin, 55, had to make the harrowing decision to have his life support turned off following his suicide attempt.
After struggling to cope with her loss, Karin hanged herself at home a fortnight ago.
Now her brother Simon Cheshire, 58, has told the he wants justice for Jay and Karin.
And he is calling for a thorough investigation into the rape claim.
Simon said of Jay’s accuser: “I want to hear her side of the story. I was
asking myself ‘Maybe something did happen?’
"All those questions were going through my head but I know now nothing happened.
“There’s a girl out there. I want to hear her side of the story, what really happened?”
Bus driver Simon said he came face-to-face with the accuser weeks ago but it was the wrong moment to tackle her.
He said: “It was awkward... I think she knew who we were. Nothing was said, it was the wrong place to speak to her.
“I very nearly sent her a personal message to tell her who I was and asking for her side of the story. I didn’t get to do it. I want answers.”
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Speaking of his nephew’s ordeal, he said: “Jay was under investigation for seven weeks.
“Jay was just taken away at night, he was strip-searched and they took his clothes to do tests on.
“This was a 17-year-old lad, he was quite sensitive and must have found it so difficult.
"He had other issues but this was massive for him. I remember saying to my sister how terrible it was. He never dealt with it.
“Karin wanted an investigation and we’ll continue to fight for that now.”.
In June 2015 his body was found in a park near his home - weeks after the police probe was dropped.
His life support was switched off in early July.
Mum Karin believed detectives mishandled the case and called for an investigation.
But she fell into a deep depression and could not handle a future without her son.
She was sectioned and spent six months in hospital but, Simon believes she fooled docs into allowing her to come home.
Karin was found dead in her home after neighbours became worried they hadn’t seen her walk her beloved Shih Tzu dog.
An inquestopened last week and heard she died on July 18 in the same way as her son – asphyxiation as a result of hanging.
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