Manchester Police Slated Over Nurse's Murder

The police watchdog has condemned one of the UK's biggest forces for failing to protect a nurse who was murdered and mutilated by her jealous ex-boyfriend.

Katie Cullen, 35, was stabbed 130 times in a frenzied attack by Iman Ghaefelipour, during a row at her home. After she died, he gouged out her eye and tried to cut off her hand.

Katie had reported a previous attack, but police took many days to respond and when they did they did not consider he posed a threat, nor did they tell her of Ghaefelipour's history of violence towards a previous girlfriend, said the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

IPCC commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said in a report: "In my view, Katie was badly let down by Greater Manchester Police.

"Our investigation has exposed a catalogue of inaction and missed opportunities. Not only did the police fail to help her, their actions may have given her false reassurance and increased her vulnerability. Katie and her family deserved better."

Jobless asylum-seeker Ghaefelipour, 32, was jailed for a minimum of 23 years after admitting murder in 2010 at Katie's Stockport home.

A sergeant and constable "have received management action" for not telling Katie of their previous contact with Ghaefelipour.

Katie's mother Diane Cullen said: "We are distraught at what happened to Katie and utterly appalled at the lack of care she received at the hands of GMP when she reported the threat to kill her and their decision keep vital information from her.

"It is inconceivable to us that the two police officers concerned should protect her assailant, a man with a reported history of violence, than protect a vulnerable young girl who lived on her own and who turned to them for help."

The IPCC said Katie, a senior hospital sister, had dumped Ghaefelipour after a six-month relationship when she discovered he had stolen £3,000 from her bank account.

She reported him for assaulting her and threatening to kill her when he confronted her and a new lover in a restaurant.

The watchdog said police made the incident a priority but, instead of responding within an hour as they should have done, they delayed their response 26 times and eventually contacted Katie 22 days later.

They referred the matter to their domestic violence unit and sent her a standard letter and information booklet.

Police misspelt Katie's and Ghaefelipour's names in a computer entry, so his violent history was not flagged up.

Two years earlier, a previous ex-lover had accused Ghaefelipour of harassing and threatening to kill her. Later, her car and home were set alight.

The IPCC said the earlier police investigation had been inadequate and, although no charges were brought, detectives believed Ghaefelipour was responsible.

The watchdog said GMP had told it that lessons had been learned and working practice across the force had been improved.

But a recent analysis of forces' response to domestic abuse has identified GMP as one of four forces "giving cause for very serious concern".

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Rumney said: "GMP recognises and accepts the comments made by the IPCC that the investigations into allegations of arson in 2007 involving a previous partner of Imam Ghafelipour prior to his relationship with Katherine were insufficient in depth and lacked the rigour they deserved.

"In addition, that despite officers arresting Ghafelipour, interviewing him and submitting an advice file to CPS, they lacked the investigative experience to undertake such investigations.

"Over the last five years GMP have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at protecting victims from domestic abuse."