Coroner criticises police and agencies over murder case

POLICE and other agencies have been criticised by a senior coroner in connection with a murder committed by a Plymouth man.

- OLIVIER VERGNAULT

Coroner Andrew Cox said a more rounded, holistic and robust approach should have been taken by all involved to ensure 49-year-old mother-of-two Michaela Hall could have broken the cycle of violence from her partner Lee Kendall, and prevent him from murdering her.

Michaela was stabbed to death in the eye socket and brain by Kendall at her home in Truro on May 31, 2021. An alcoholic and drug addict, Kendall had a prolific history of offending. The pair met while Michaela, a former air hostess, was working as a prison resettlement officer in February, 2019.

Kendall, 45, was jailed for life with a minimum 21-year term for her murder in January 2022. During a two-week inquest into Michaela’s death held in Truro this month, it was heard how the mum was described as kind-hearted, warm, loving, endearing and had wanted to ‘try and fix Kendall’.

It was also heard how Michaela had been on a call to a friend living in Spain that night when Kendall grabbed her by the throat and stabbed her in the face. Her friend could hear the horrific attack taking place and Michaela’s terrified screams. The friend tried but could not call 999 as she was abroad so reported the ongoing incident to Crimestoppers who then passed it on to Devon and Cornwall Police.