Son of Bathgate hairdresser murdered by boyfriend tells inquest police knew her life was in danger two weeks before death

Katrina O’Hara, 44, was stabbed to death days after jealous Stuart Thomas was released by police having been arrested for harassment.

Police were told by her family that Thomas had threatened to kill both himself and her, the inquest heard.

However, he was released on bail and no action was taken against him despite him twice breaching his bail conditions by indirectly contacting the mother-of-three in the subsequent days.

Thomas stabbed Ms O’Hara to death at the barber shop she worked at in Blandford Forum, Dorset, on January 7, 2016.

Thomas, now 53, denied murder but was convicted and jailed for a minimum 26 years in August 2016.

Released on bail

The inquest heard Ms O’Hara, who was originally from Bathgate, contacted police about Thomas on November 17, 2015.

Her son Kyle Stark also called them saying he feared for her life over the Christmas period after she confided in him about Thomas’ threats and violent outbursts.

Ms O’Hara called police on December 28 and Thomas was arrested on suspicion of harassment the following day.

He was seen by a psychiatrist and interviewed by two police officers but was released on bail.

Ms O’Hara was in further contact with police reporting potential breaches of bail conditions on January 1 and 4, 2016.

Thomas’ daughter had contacted the O’Hara family demanding the hairdresser drop the charges against him.

However, her younger son Dean Stark, 29, said the police took ‘no action’ in response to this before Ms O’Hara was murdered.

In a written statement read out at the inquest in Bournemouth, Mr Stark said: “Some time over Christmas my brother Kyle called the police because we were so worried Stuart Thomas would kill my mum.

“She confided in us that he had been violent with her and had made these threats to ‘do her’.

“My mum then contacted police herself and gave a full statement.

“We were told Stuart Thomas would be arrested and maybe sectioned but if he was bailed we would be notified in advance.

“But then on New Year’s Day during a family gathering my sister Morgan got a message from his daughter saying mum should drop the charges.

“This was in breach of his bail which says he couldn’t contact her directly or indirectly but as far as I’m aware police didn’t take any action and he killed my mum.”

Two stab wounds

Giving evidence, Detective Inspector Richard Dixey, of Dorset Police, described the gruesome scene inside the barbers as Ms O’Hara’s daughter Morgan O’Hara, 20, walked out of the inquest.

DI Dixey said: “We discovered the victim laying wounded towards the rear of the barber shop bleeding profusely but unresponsive.

“Despite everyone’s best efforts and receiving CPR she sadly died at the scene.

“A trail of blood led to a courtyard at the rear of a nearby property where Stuart Thomas was discovered badly injured with a cut to his left wrist and unconscious. He was taken to Poole Hospital and once he regained consciousness he was arrested for murder.”

A post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr Russell Delaney revealed Ms O’Hara died of two stab wounds to the front left side of her chest.

In a statement issued prior to the inquest via their legal representatives, Hudgell Solicitors, the family said: “It’s been four long years since our mum was so cruelly and violently taken from us.

“The fact that our mum’s death could have been prevented only makes our grief even harder to bear.”

The inquest continues.