WMP refers itself to IOPC over delays in attending murder scene
A shortage of available investigators at West Midlands Police is believed to have been behind delays in officers attending the scene of a fatal stabbing.
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after it emerged that detectives had taken more than 45 minutes to arrive at the scene of the crime, despite a police station being less than two minutes away.
Police received two calls early on the morning of Saturday, July 31, about an “incident” at a flat in Unett Street, Newtown, but officers did not attend the property until more than 45 minutes later.
Upon arrival, officers discovered 19-year-old Yordanos Brhane suffering from multiple knife injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Inspector Jenny Bean, from West Midlands Police’s Professional Standards department, told BirminghamLive: “On Monday August 2 we made a referral to the IOPC in relation to police contact with Ms Brhana prior to her death.
“Our records show that we were called at 6.13am on Saturday July 31 by someone reporting an incident at the flat. A second call was received at 6.26am. We arrived at 7am and found Ms Brhana’s body.”
Halefom Weldyohannes, 25, from Sheffield, was arrested the following day in Stoke-on-Trent and has now been charged with her murder. He is understood to be known to the victim.
