'Blindingly obvious' Sutton woman's stabbing wasn't suicide, says criminologist

A new investigation into the 'suicide' of a Sutton woman who suffered multiple stab wounds hopes to shed new light on her death.
Crime scene photo from the report by Italian authorities. (Source: BBC)Crime scene photo from the report by Italian authorities. (Source: BBC)
Crime scene photo from the report by Italian authorities. (Source: BBC)

The Sutton family who have been fighting for justice for their daughter, Claire Martin, say they are given hope as criminologist and politicians join their battle to be heard.

On March 1, 2012, Claire Martin suffered multiple stab wounds in her neck while living with her son and fiance in southern Italy.

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Italian pathologists initially called the death a murder, but in a mystery ruling which the family have been battling ever since, magistrates decided the death was suicide and have refused to reopen the case.

Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.
Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.

But now Criminologists in Derby have opened the case to re-examine the circumstances in a bid to ask Italian authorities to reconsider.

Mum Pat Martin, 61, who lives in Sutton, said: "Since we lost Claire life has been a living nightmare. We get through the days - somehow.

"All we've focused on is trying to get some kind of justice for Claire and her son, and we'll never give up.

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"The Italians have never told us anything. We don't know what time she died, who was present, that's what we've been met with for years."

Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.
Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.

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Pat and Ray Martin have appeared on a new BBC investigation, to air tonight at 7.30pm. (Source: BBC).Pat and Ray Martin have appeared on a new BBC investigation, to air tonight at 7.30pm. (Source: BBC).
Pat and Ray Martin have appeared on a new BBC investigation, to air tonight at 7.30pm. (Source: BBC).

Dad Ray Martin, 61, said: "One day I had a daughter and the next day I didn't, and nobody is able to tell me why.

"We know Claire didn't take her own lie. There is a murderer out there."

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Claire was staying in Campania in Southern Italy with her fiance Diego before the couple were about to move to Germany, where they first met.

They had a son together, Alex, now six, and Diego was away on work when Claire was stabbed outside her house and died of blood loss within minutes.

Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.
Claire Martin with her fiance Diego and son Alex after the couple settled in Italy.

Initially Italian pathologists said the death was a murder until eventually deciding she had postnatal depression and committed suicide.

"Everyone over there said how bubbly Claire was just before she died, but when they interviewed us all they were interested in was her state of mind," added Pat.

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Two years after the murder, a magistrate said there were 'challenging issues' in the case but due to the time frame it 'was not worth reopening the case'.

Now the British investigator who has re-opened the case of a Sutton Woman who died of multiple stab wounds has slammed the Italian authorities for a lack of 'investigative competence'.

Retired police detective and criminology lecturer, Tony Blockley, has analysed the findings, and joins the family and a Home Office pathologist in calls for Italian magistrates to reopen the case.

The senior lecturer in criminology at Derby's University who campaigns for justice charity, Murdered Abroad, said: "It is a miscarriage of justice in the truest sense of the word.

Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.
Claire Martin, with her mum, Pat. The devastated family are fighting for her case to be head again by Italian magistrates.
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From the information that we have available, there's a clear lack of any investigation, there's an investigation of sorts but one of the principles is that you keep an open mind - you form a range of hypotheses and you have to eliminate them until you're left with only a few.

"I have no idea why the Italian authorities would cover this up. It's just easier not to investigate. It saves a lot of work. There's a lack of investigative competence and transparency. They've not examined why they came to that conclusion."

The alleged attack occurred after Claire walked down some steps from her home to her car. A knife was found under the stairs and her car keys were dropped on the floor near her car, suggested to have occurred as she was grabbed from behind.

Mr Blockley added: "It's highly unusual for anyone to stab themselves in the throat. The handle of the knife had been wiped clean. Why would someone do that if they had stabbed themselves?"

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As Claire ran back to the house after being stabbed, she shouted to her fiance's mother, "a man, a man" and pointed to some wasteland behind the house, and CCTV has confirmed there was a man in that area.

"It's blindingly obvious that Claire didn't commit suicide from the material I've seen," said the criminologist.

Since losing their daughter, Pat and Ray have struggled to survive without any closure.

The last five years of not knowing have taken their toll on the whole family, said Ray.

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But as Politicians and media have come out to support the family's pleas, they have new hope for action.

MP Gloria de Piero has supported Pat and Ray, and arranged for them to visit Europe minister Sir Alan Duncan at the Foreign Office headquarters in London, who has joined them in calling for answers. And a BBC Inside Out investigation explores the case in a special report, airing 7.30pm tonight (Monday, February 27).

"We've had support from politicians on the QT before, but this is the first time they have come out in public," said Ray.

"This is the closest we've ever come to getting answers. Thanks to the coverage we've been able to start a conversation. But if the Italians refuse to listen we're back to square one."

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Ms Piero said: "We had a very positive meeting with the Minister for Europe in January and we are hopefully moving in the right direction by arranging a meeting with the relevant authorities in Italy."

Sir Alan told Inside Out: "The Foreign Office has been trying to do its best on this now for nearly five years and I have reassured Claire’s parents that we will continue to do everything we possibly can to help them – including making sure the issues they have raised are raised in Italy.”I mean it is the most harrowing case. It's very frustrating for me as a minister and for Gloria as a Member of Parliament not to be able to do more, but we are dealing with another country's judicial system.

"This smells a bit, and to just close the case and say 'oh it's suicide' - it's clearly not true."

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