Dr Jan Melia, a current domestic homicide review chairperson, has been appointed as the independent reviewer in the case of Jonathan Cresswell.

Cresswell was arrested in March 2021 in connection with the rape and murder of Katie Simpson in August 2020.

He was subsequently charged with these offences and, while the criminal trial was ongoing, was found dead at his home in April 2024.

The independent review aims to ensure the circumstances of the case are fully understood and to take account of any learning around the management of serious offenders.

Dr Melia has over 30 years’ experience working with victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.

Working in England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, she has held senior roles in victims’ organisations including Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis, and she has developed victim-centred projects and policies for a wide range of voluntary sector organisations.

She holds an LLM in human rights and transitional justice from the University of Ulster as well as a PhD in politics and international relations from the University of Aberdeen. She also studied person-centred counselling at Queen’s University Belfast.

Announcing her appointment on Friday, justice minister Naomi Long said: “Today as I announce more information into this bespoke review, my thoughts are very much with the family of Katie Simpson — indeed, all of Jonathan Creswell’s victims.

“Tragically we cannot turn back the hands of time but what we can do is learn lessons from the past so that they are not repeated in the future.

“Katie’s family will very much be at the centre of this review, which is not about apportioning blame to any organisation — but constructive engagement and a learning-based approach. It is crucial the focus is on collective, system-wide learning.”

The minister has contacted the PSNI, Probation Board NI (PBNI), Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WH&SCT) to seek their full support for the review.