A Met Police officer has been dismissed from the force after being found guilty of gross misconduct for asking a colleague for a picture of a decomposing corpse to send to her mother.
PC Bonnie Murphy received the image from her former colleague, Jamie Lewis, a fellow PC who was later jailed for posing for selfie-type photographs next to the bodies of two murdered sisters in Wembley, north London.
A misconduct hearing this week heard that Lewis had sent a picture of a body to Ms Murphy who wrote “haha” in texts about the case, The Times reported.
He had sent the picture six months prior to the deaths of Ms Henry and Ms Smallman.
The Met’s public notice prior to the hearing read: “It is alleged that PC Murphy asked former PC Lewis to send her a photograph from a possible crime scene stating she wanted to show her mother, following which former PC Lewis sent the photograph on WhatsApp.”
The body was discovered at an address in northeast London in January 2020 after neighbours had reported a bad smell. It was later established that the death was from natural causes.
Both Ms Murphy and Lewis were found guilty of gross misconduct at the conclusion of a hearing on Friday.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “After hearing the evidence, the disciplinary panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, ruled they were both in breach of the police professional standards of behaviour relating to honesty and integrity.
“PC Bonnie Murphy was dismissed without notice and former PC Jamie Lewis, who was previously sacked and jailed for sharing photos of murder victims Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, would have been dismissed if he was still a serving officer.”
Mr Murphy was also found by the panel to have cheated on a police driving exam using Google to look up answers and after receiving previous copies of the paper from Lewis.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said:“The period after a person’s death is already difficult enough for their loved ones, so to learn that an image has been taken and shared inappropriately by police officers only compounds their grief, undermines their confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service and the profession as a whole.
“We welcome the panel’s decision and hope today’s outcome demonstrates that this behaviour is not treated lightly and can result in serious consequences for the officers involved.
“Though PC Murphy was fairly new to her role, she had undertaken multiple training courses and would have known her request to obtain a death scene photo for personal purposes was in breach of professional standards.
“Lewis failed to challenge PC Murphy’s behaviour and was willing to help her cheat in an exam. Both officers also showed a complete lack of respect to this deceased man and his family.
“Lewis has already been jailed for his disgraceful actions by taking and sharing photos of murder victims and this investigation further illustrates that he was unfit to serve as a police officer.Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.”
Murphy had denied allegations of gross misconduct.
Eva Niculiu, defending Ms Murphy before the disciplinary panel in central London, said it was normal for officers to cheat during the exam, The Times reported. She also accused Lewis of grooming his colleague who worked with her at Forest Gate police station.
Lewis has not participated in the hearing as he remains in prison. He was jailed for two years and nine months alongside his colleague, Denis Jaffer in December 2021 for sending pictures of the bodies of Ms Henry and Ms Smallman on WhatsApp.
The two sisters were stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park. Six other officers at the station were sent pictures of the bodies of the sisters or were aware of their existence.
Earlier this month, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he has a practical plan to "turn things around” at the Met.
Announcing his so-called 'Turnaround Plan', Sir Mark said: "The next two years are critical – from adopting new technologies and methods to achieving our goals and investing in our people. Those we serve, as well as our own people, rightly expect the highest standards too.
“I am determined to win back Londoners’ trust. We can succeed because of the dedicated, honest, often heroic, men and women who are the great majority of the Met."
