Sergeant joked about strangulation - inquest hears

Daniela Espirito Santo died while on hold to the non-emergency 101 number

A police sergeant joked about strangulation as he dealt with a domestic assault against a young mother who was later found dead in her flat, an inquest has heard.

Daniela Espirito Santo, 23, was found unresponsive at her home in Chestnut Grove, Grantham, on 9 April 2020, shortly after calling police to report an assault by her ex-partner Julio Jesus.

Lincoln Coroner's Court heard custody sergeant Pete Andrews made a joke relating to strangulation while discussing the case with a colleague.

Mr Jesus had been arrested early on 8 April and taken into custody after he was alleged to have pinned Ms Espirito Santo down and pushed his arm against her throat.

Sgt Andrews bailed Mr Jesus at 17:53 BST, with conditions not to return to the house or contact Ms Espirito Santo.

Shaheen Rahman, representing Ms Espirito Santo's family, referenced a transcript of a conversation between PC Matthew Fromm and Sgt Andrews that had been taken from CCTV footage while Mr Jesus was in custody.

PC Fromm, who had attended the incident that morning, referenced the alleged strangulation of Ms Espirito Santo and another case and stated, "that seems to be two in two days".

"Three including my missus," Sgt Andrews replied, with the transcript stating the officer had put his hand to his throat.

Addressing Sgt Andrews, Ms Rahman said: "You simply didn't take the risk to Daniela seriously."

Sgt Andrews said it was an "off-the-cuff comment" in relation to his "own marital problems".

"I sincerely apologise to the family," he added.

When PC Fromm was questioned by Ms Rahman about the incident, he said he "would be upset with himself" if he had found the remark funny.

Ms Espirito Santo died as a result of an "acute deterioration of the heart"

Mr Jesus broke his bail conditions by calling Ms Espirito Santo and returning to their property later that evening, the inquest heard.

She called 999 to report another domestic incident at 23:21 BST the same day.

The court heard Ms Espirito Santo tell 999 call handler Anthony Nunns she was "covered in redness" and that Mr Jesus was "pushing me out the way and stuff like that".

Mr Nunns advised Ms Espirito Santo to call 101 - the force's non emergency number - as he "identified there was no immediate risk" because Mr Jesus had left the property.

The call handler told the court he did not think he "could've done anything different".

Officers were sent to the property when Mr Nunns realised the address had a "critical marker" next to it.

After being on hold for eight minutes, Ms Espirito Santo was put through to a 101 call handler at 23.32 BST.

All the handler could hear were the cries of Ms Espirito Santo's six-month-old baby.

An ambulance was called and CPR performed, but she was pronounced dead at 00:58 on 9 April.

A pathologist's report found Ms Espirito Santo, who suffered a heart condition known as myocarditis, died as a "result of acute deterioration of the heart".

'Instant panic'

Lianne O'Connor lives two floors below the flat where Ms Espirito Santo and Mr Jesus resided.

Ms O'Connor told the inquest she heard arguing from the flat "every other day".

She said she heard "screaming and shouting" at 22:30 BST on 8 April 2020.

She said: "You don't normally get involved but this time something seemed really different. I was watching telly and there was a very loud scream.

"It was a different scream than I had ever heard before. It was more like a squeal."

Ms O'Connor said she "knew it was Daniela" and felt "instant panic".

She said she heard Ms Espirito Santo shout "get out, leave me alone, get out, get out".

Ms O'Connor said she then heard Ms Espirito Santo shout phrases such as "that's my baby", "please let go of my baby" and "put my baby down".

"I then heard him [Mr Jesus] saying I will drop it, do you want me to drop it?"

Ms O'Connor said it then went "completely silent".

The inquest continues.

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