‘Shame on you’: Caroline Flack’s mother says lawyer’s comments on trial are ‘deeply regrettable’

‘My daughter was unable to defend herself during her life and is unable to do so now,’ Chris Flack states

(Getty Images)

Caroline Flack’s mother has responded to comments made by a lawyer with regards to her daughter’s trial, stating they “could not have let my beautiful daughter rest in peace”.

Lawyer Ed Beltrami, formerly head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), recently released a statement concerning the charge of assault made against the television presenter before her death.

Mr Beltrami said that the case could not be dropped just because the alleged victim Lewis Burton, Flack’s boyfriend, did not support it, telling the Wales on Sunday newspaper: “You cannot do what you think is popular.”

In February, two weeks before the trial was due to start, Ms Flack took her own life. Ms Flack's management said the CPS conducted a “show trial” following her death, which they condemned.

In a statement published in her local newspaper the Eastern Daily Press, Ms Flack’s mother, Chris Flack, said: “It is deeply regrettable that Mr Beltrami could not have let my beautiful daughter rest in peace.

“It is as regrettable that he should choose to repeat some of the untruths about my daughter,” Mrs Flack stated.

“My daughter was unable to defend herself during her life and is unable to do so now. Shame on you.”

In his recent statement, Mr Beltrami, now Wales’ chief crown prosecutor, said that when the decision was made to proceed with Ms Flack’s case, “you have absolutely no idea that the defendant is going to take her own life.”

Mrs Flack said that if it is true that the CPS “had no idea” the Love Island presenter may take her own life, then the agency “ignored the correspondence from my daughter’s solicitors and a psychologist’s report warning of just that possibility”.

Mrs Flack also described an allegation that her daughter hit Mr Burton over the head with a lamp as “false”.

She stated that the claim was denied by Ms Flack and Mr Burton, in addition to being “completely inconsistent with the injury that Mr Burton sustained”.

Mr Beltrami said that the case could not be dropped just because the alleged victim did not want it raised in court.

“You just don’t fold at the first sign of trouble – the fact that the victim doesn’t want to know,” the lawyer said.

“You’ve got to look at whether you can prosecute without the support of the victim”, adding that there was a risk of “repetition” of the alleged crime.

In March, the CPS declared it would be conducting a review into Flack’s death.

The agency later stated that the case was handled “appropriately” following the “show trial” that took place.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Caroline Flack,” a spokesperson said.

“It is normal practice for prosecutors to hold a debriefing in complex or sensitive cases after they have ended.

“This has taken place and found that the case was handled appropriately and in line with our published legal guidance.”

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