INQUEST DUE ON SEX ABUSE VICTIM
The death of a gifted violinist who killed herself days after she gave evidence at a sex abuse trial will be examined at an inquest today.
Frances Andrade, 48, died at her home in Guildford, Surrey, a week after giving evidence against former music director Michael Brewer in January 2013.
Her death prompted a debate over how victims give evidence in trials and how they are cared for by the legal system.
Brewer, who taught at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, was later jailed for six years at Manchester Crown Court.
A serious case review said Ms Andrade was "let down" by mental health services who failed to realise how vulnerable she was as she fought to bring Brewer to justice.
Proper care measures and adequate risk assessments were not put in place as she made increasingly serious suicide bids, the report by the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board noted.
Its authors called for criminal justice professionals to improve the support offered to sex abuse survivors and recognise their "vulnerability" when facing their abusers in court.
Brewer, who was later stripped of his OBE awarded for services to music in 1994, was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting Ms Andrade when she was 14 and 15.
His ex-wife, Hilary Kay Brewer, was jailed for 21 months after she was convicted at the same trial of indecently assaulting Ms Andrade when she was 18.
The inquest will be held at Woking Coroner's Court in Surrey.
