Ceon Broughton found guilty of Louella Fletcher-Michie manslaughter at Dorset music festival

Louella Fletcher-Michie is the daughter of Holby City actor John Michie Credit: Zoe Barling/PA
  • Watch Mary Stanley's report about the background to the case below

Interviewees: Det Ch Insp, Neil Devoto, Dorset Police & Simon Jones, Crown Prosecution Service

Ceon Broughton has been found guilty of the manslaughter of his girlfriend Louella Fletcher-Michie and supplying her with party drug 2-CP at the Bestival music festival in Dorset.

The 25-year-old was found dead in a wooded area on the edge of the site at Lulworth Castle in 2017.

Ceon Broughton showed no emotion as the verdict was announced Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA

Broughton showed no emotion as the verdict was announced by the foreman of the jury and the court received the announcement in silence.

Broughton then sat down with his hands held together in front of his face as the judge, Mr Justice Goose, said he intended to sentence him on Friday.

The judge said: "The defendant will remain in custody."

Addressing the jury of five men and six women, he said: "Thank you for all the work you have put into this case. The next stage of the process is to go on to sentencing, that will be in the morning."

Broughton called out to his barrister and said: "Text my mum."

John Michie, Louella's father

The prosecution said Broughton failed to take "reasonable" steps to seek medical help for Miss Fletcher-Michie.

The jury was shown videos taken by the defendant as her condition worsened - and possibly after she had died.

In clips shown to the court, Miss Fletcher-Michie repeatedly shouts at Broughton to telephone her mother, Carol Fletcher-Michie, but he tells her to "put your phone away".

Her mother eventually contacted Broughton at 6.48pm and heard her daughter "screeching" before she rushed with her husband to the festival site in a bid to find her daughter.

Prosecutor William Mousley QC claimed Broughton did not get help because he was handed a suspended jail term one month earlier and feared the consequences.

He said that Broughton had given the drugs to Miss Fletcher-Michie and therefore had a duty of care to look after her.

Miss Fletcher-Michie was found dead by a security steward in the woodland, 400m from the festival's hospital tent, at about 1am.A post-mortem examination found "2-CP toxicity" and traces of ketamine and MDMA.

Professor Charles Deakin, a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care, told the court that she had a 90% chance of survival if she had been given medical help.

But Stephen Kamlish QC, defending, said that the expert witness had acknowledged that she might not have survived even with medical help.

He added that Broughton, who denied supplying the drugs, had felt unable to leave his girlfriend alone in the woods while she was suffering a "bad trip" and he had not realised she was at risk of death.

He said Broughton had sought help through text messages and sending his GPS position through the mobile phone app Google Maps.

Broughton, who performs under the artist name CEONRPG and has recorded music with Skepta, previously pleaded guilty to supplying 2-CP to Miss Fletcher-Michie and another person at the Glastonbury Festival earlier in 2017.

Rapper Ceon Broughton arrives at Winchester Crown Court Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA

In a statement released through Mr Michie's agent shortly after his daughter's death, the family said: "Our hearts are broken by this horrific tragedy.

"Louella inspired all who knew her with her joy of life."

Ex-Coronation Street and Taggart actor Mr Michie, 62, and his wife Carol - a former Hot Gossip singer - have two other children, Daisy and Sam.

Louella Fletcher-Michie is the daughter of Holby City actor John Michie

Speaking outside, Mr Michie said: "Regardless of the outcome of this harrowing trial, there were never going to be any winners.

"We began our life sentence on what would have been Louella's 25th birthday. Ceon's life sentence is knowing he didn't help Louella to live."

Towards the end of the trial, Mr Michie confronted Broughton, who declined to give evidence during the case, in a court waiting area and called the defendant "evil".

Miss Fletcher-Michie's sister Daisy also told him: "All we wanted from you was an apology."

Broughton was then seen to lose his temper and he damaged a table and a water cooler.

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