People are outraged after two Metropolitan Police officers admitted to taking and sharing photos of the bodies of two murdered sisters, Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry at their crime scene.
Appearing at the Old Bailey today, Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis confirmed they had taken photos of the pair who were murdered in north-west London in June, while on duty, and distributed them to others, including by showing them to another male officer, with Lewis sharing further photos of the crime scene without the bodies in a WhatsApp group of over 40 officers.
Henry and Smallman were murdered by 18-year-old Danyal Hussein, who believed he was fulfilling a Satanic pact by “sacrificing” women in exchange for a lottery win. Last week, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years for the crimes. Meanwhile, the officers were suspended from duty following the incident.
Today, pleading guilty of misconduct in public office, the court heard that the police officers breached a cordon to enter the crime scene. Jaffer took four photographs while Lewis took two. In one photo, Lewis superimposed his face on one of the photos. They also risked contaminating the crime scene by their actions, the court heard.
Reacting to the news, people expressed their shock and disgust.
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Paul Goddard, from the CPS, said: “PC Jamie Lewis and PC Deniz Jaffer’s senseless conduct fell way below that to be expected from police officers.
“These officers were tasked with protecting a tragic crime scene, but instead they violated it for their own purposes, with no regard to the dignity of the victims, or the harm they might do to a murder investigation.
“Their thoughtless and insensitive actions have no doubt caused immeasurable further distress and pain to the heartbroken family and friends of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry who were already left reeling from the loss of their loved ones.”
Speaking outside the court, the sisters’ mother Mina Smallman said: “It may sound really ridiculous that this case has brought us to even more anxiety today. It’s the most nervous I’ve felt doing any interview, and I think because it was the final straw.”
Speaking to inews she added that Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida hadn’t contacted her to apologise for the incident and that there is “no such thing as a bad apple”.
She said: “If these police officers do not get a custodial sentence it will not send the message. You are not above the law. You are not going to be protected.”
Dick called the actions of her officers “utterly unprofessional, disrespectful and deeply insensitive.”
She said: “Our thoughts today are with the family and friends of Bibaa and Nicole.
“I deeply regret that at a time when they were grieving the loss of their loved ones who were taken in such awful circumstances, they faced additional distress caused by the actions of two police officers.
“I apologised to Bibaa and Nicole’s family in June last year and, on behalf of the Met, I apologise again today.”
She said the two officers would face “an accelerated misconduct process” to decide if they can keep their jobs.
People also reacted to the news on social media:
The Met Police failed to to investigate the disappearance of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman properly and then officers take selfies with their bodies.
— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) November 2, 2021
There's no words to describe how sick they are. Jail is far too good for them 😠https://t.co/PoknDfxBJw
Inhumane Met Cops Jamie Lewis & Deniz Jaffer have pleaded guilty to sharing images of Bibaa Henry & Nicole Smallman. Lewis (on phone) superimposed his face on a photograph with the murder victims behind him. We're struggling to trust police, these two must be made an example of. pic.twitter.com/sxPJbMqlWQ
— Sonia Poulton (@SoniaPoulton) November 2, 2021
This story is horrifying on so many levels. One of the Metropolitan police officers edited one of the pictures (which he shared on WhatsApp) by superimposing his own face on to the photo, *with the brutally murdered bodies of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in the background*. https://t.co/BKUGMJA0Fq
— Dr Zubaida Haque (@Zubhaque) November 2, 2021
This story always made me furious. I still can’t read the whole thing as it’s just dark and sick. I hope justice is served https://t.co/SBPIcjbQX1
— Marvyn Harrison (He/Him) (@Marvyn_Harrison) November 2, 2021
British police officers saw the bodies of two murdered women and thought "let's take selfies"
— Nels Abbey (@nelsabbey) November 2, 2021
This is a confirmation of a culture of extreme dehumanising misogyny and racism in the police.
Bibaa and Nicole deserved respect and dignity, they got the Met.https://t.co/BaHmiDpr03
Disgraceful Met officers PC Deniz Jaffer and PC Jamie Lewis have pleaded guilty to sharing photos of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman on WhatsApp.
— Lorna_TVeditor (@Lorna_TVeditor) November 2, 2021
Their mother Mina Smallman condemned them as "Despicable 1 and Despicable 2″.
Sack them! https://t.co/ddSxVAZutd pic.twitter.com/FAf0rJTCdC
A total betrayal of trust, two officers, still suspended on full pay plead guilty one of them super imposed his own head on the body of one the two beautiful sisters. The utter arrogance and disrespect to the family. Thoughts with loved ones of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman. https://t.co/IHhrVnO6DC
— Shabnam (@ShabnamChaudhri) November 2, 2021
Appalling 😡
— Cheryl 💙 (@Cherylsmilesx) November 2, 2021
Leader of the Women’s Equality Party Mandu Reid called the case “beyond horrific”.
The details of what these police officers did are beyond horrific. As Mina Smallman has said: we HAVE to examine why and how they felt comfortable enough to do such a thing, we HAVE to address what this tells us about the culture within the @metpoliceuk.https://t.co/Uxo8eZRrbK
— Mandu Reid (@ManduReid) November 2, 2021
While charity ActionAid UK said “police apologies over mishandling this case aren’t enough”.
As officers plead guilty to sharing photos of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman's bodies, we again say police apologies over mishandling this case aren't enough. Justice systems must take violence against women and girls seriously.
— ActionAid UK (@ActionAidUK) November 2, 2021
➡️ https://t.co/NM7E58vhb4https://t.co/RwrbOOovP6
Labour MP Diane Abbott called on Cressida Dick to resign:
Nina Smallman’s daughters Bibaa Henry & Nicole Smallman were brutally stabbed to death. She says the Independent Office of Police Conduct is being seriously hampered by the Met police. Met will never reform with Cressida Dick in charge #cressidamustgo pic.twitter.com/26JzJTbMmK
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) November 2, 2021
And her colleague Dawn Butler also commented on the case:
Metropolitan Police officers Pc Deniz Jaffer, 47, and Pc Jamie Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty after they shared photos of the bodies of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman on "A-team" WhatsApp with *40* other officers🤬 pic.twitter.com/W7dLzClvRt https://t.co/8BPAZP1Vqe
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) November 2, 2021
Goddard and Lewis will return to the Old Bailey for sentencing in December. Judge Mark Lucraft told them to expect jail time “of some length”.
