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Suicide of Chetham's victim 'could have been prevented'

A serious case review into the suicide of a woman during a trial has found her death could have been prevented. Frances Andrade killed herself after giving evidence against teacher Michael Brewer who abused her while at Chetham's School of Music.

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Abuse victims who give evidence 'deserve support'

Professional services who were responsible for the care of Frances Andrade - referred to in the the serious case review as Mrs A - were "found wanting" in a number of ways, the report said.

Concluding the 48-year-old's suicide was one that could have been prevented, the report noted that the violinist "had reasons to live and she continued to ask for help throughout this period."

We therefore invite all the agencies concerned to take real and concrete steps towards improving their practice.

When historic cases of sexual abuse come to court, we ask former victims to stand up and lay bare details about their lives that are painful and intimate.

Criminal justice and mental health services should be able to provide a comprehensive and seamless support service to them throughout this process because, as this case demonstrates, historic abuse is always a present source of difficulty and distress to those who have been victimised.

...Those services, who held responsibility for her care, were found wanting in (a) number of ways, and we hope that Mrs A's death will galvanise them to provide more co-ordinated and skilled care to other victims of historic abuse.

Perhaps then, Mrs A's wish to protect other young people can belatedly become a reality.

– Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board
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Suicide of Chetham's victim 'could have been prevented'

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