The family of a young mum who took her life a week after being raped are still waiting for her mobile phone to be returned by police – three years later.
Carol Forrest and Kelsey Johnson, the mother and sister of Jenna Johnson, 27, who died on New Year’s Day 2019, have repeatedly asked Police Scotland for the phone after charges in the case were dropped.
One of the men who Jenna told friends had attacked her died early this year shortly before the Crown was due to decide on whether to prosecute him.
The man, Stewart Dixon, who was also suspected by the local community of murdering Stefan Sutherland, 25, in September 2013, had been charged along with his close friend of sexually assaulting Jenna following a raid on their homes.
Following his death Carol and Kelsey learned there would be no proceedings against the other man. Devastated that mum-of-two Jenna would not receive justice, they asked for her belongings to be returned, especially her phone, which they knew contained many of her treasured family photos.
Carol, from Thurso, Caithness, in the Highlands, said last night: “We were visited by a female police officer who told us that the phone would be some consolation to us and to Jenna’s children as there were so many happy memories on it.
“When it didn’t come back to us, I called and spoke to a woman in the local fiscal’s office and she said to leave it with her. Over the months since then I have messaged her a number of times and had no reply.”
She added: “A few weeks ago, I called her again and was told again to leave it with her. We’re still waiting and can’t help but think that if they had it, we’d have it back by now.
“It’s important for me and Kelsey, but it’s even more important for Jenna’s children because we need to be able to show them Jenna was happy as a mum and they did have lovely times together.”
A police spokesman said: “We understand how distressing the seizure and retention of property, particularly mobile phones, can be for victims of crime and the families of those victims.
“Police Scotland has three months to return property following the conclusion of any court proceedings unless there are exemptions. There may be occasions when there are wider issues to consider in relation to the return of specific items.”
They added that “further guidance is being sought” and the family would be updated in due course.
A spokesman for the Crown Office said: “If a decision is made not to commence a prosecution, it is the responsibility of the police to return, retain or destroy items seized during the course of the investigation.”
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