A rising
star of women’s football was found hanging days after a row over her
girlfriend’s refusal to tell her parents about their relationship, an
inquest heard today.
Katie Sheppard, 20, who played for West Ham Ladies, sent angry text messages ‘shouting’ at her partner Nancy Richardson.
The
midfielder died earlier this year just hours before she was due to
begin pre-season training at the club. Her body was found hanging on
July 2 by Nathaniel Hall, her mother’s partner, at her home in of
Sidcup, south-east London.
Today
an inquest at Croydon Coroner’s Court in south London heard how
officers called to her family home were concerned that the couple may
have planned a suicide pact.
PC
Alex Giacomazzi said he rushed to Miss Richardson’s home after speaking
to Miss Sheppard’s brother Christopher, soon after her body was
discovered.
He told the inquest: ‘I learned that Katie was openly homosexual and her family and friends had accepted that.
'I
found out she had a girlfriend called Nancy Richardson. I was worried
that there may have been some sort of pact and they did it together.’
But
when he turned up at Miss Richardson’s home he had to break the news to
her in front of her parents. Miss Richardson revealed communication
between the two had been difficult in the days before, the inquest
heard.
Coroner Dr Adela Williams asked PC Giacomazzi if his investigation had revealed anything of concern before Katie’s death.
He told the court he had gone through Miss Richardson’s phone and the tone of the messages from Miss Sheppard had changed.
He
said: ‘It had suddenly changed very dramatically and Katie started
"shouting" over text message, using capitals, because Nancy wasn’t
telling her parents about the relationship.’
At
10.29am on the day of her death Miss Sheppard sent a chilling message
sent to her girlfriend saying: ‘Don’t look at your phone or you might
turn up here and I can’t physically answer.’
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