My sister was killed by her partner – I want to give her a voice

8 hours ago

Emma BaughPeterborough

Karina says she and her family are trying to get used to life without her sister, Simone Smith

Emma Baugh/BBC Karina looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. She has blonde hair and a dark red patterned top. She is standing in front of greenery and foliage. The sky is a bright blue colour. — Karina says she and her family are trying to get used to life without her sister, Simone Smith

Karina remembers all too well the moment she discovered her sister, Simone Smith, had been killed.

"It was despair. You know your world has changed forever," she says.

But Karina's grief has been compounded by unanswered questions about what happened to Simone.

Her body was found in the Huntingdon home she shared with her partner, Cody Parker, the chief suspect in her killing.

A manhunt was launched but Parker was found dead the next day.

An inquest into his death heard he was responsible for killing her and took his own life soon afterwards.

But Karina, 46, also from Cambridgeshire, still wants to know more.

She and her family are determined Simone will not be forgotten and want to give her "a voice".

Simone is described by her family as a "brilliant person" with a "big personality"

Family picture A young woman in a car with long dark hair wearing a purple top looks confidently to camera. — Simone is described by her family as a "brilliant person" with a "big personality"

"She was a brilliant person and she was hilariously funny. She loved to sing and dance," says Karina.

Simone, 35, was well known around Huntingdon, having worked in several shops in the town.

"She was a great singer, had a brilliant sense of humour and was very caring.

"She had just finished training for a new job as a support worker of young people with autism. She was awaiting her DBS check and a start date for this new role when she died."

Karina recalls how, in February last year, she had sensed all was not well with Simone.

"When I looked at her social media activity, I knew that was unusual immediately," she says.

"I knew that she hadn't been on since the afternoon before and I immediately got a feeling something wasn't right."

On the moment her fears were confirmed and she learned Simone was dead, she says: "What I really remember is the noise.

"I know I've never made a noise like that in my life, and I remember it echoing around the estate, and you know that life will never be the same – it looks immediately different."

Simone had been living with Cody Parker in Hawthorn House, Huntingdon, where her body was discovered

Emma Baugh/BBC A three-storey block of flats surrounded by railings, fringed by trees in the foreground. — Simone had been living with Cody Parker in Hawthorn House, Huntingdon, where her body was discovered

Simone and Parker had been together for two and a half years, having known each other before beginning their relationship.

Last month an inquest into Parker's death heard he had been due to appear in court on 25 February 2025.

The reason was not given, but coroner Elizabeth Gray said it could have "put him on the sex offenders register".

At about 17:00 GMT on 26 February, police forced entry to the couple's flat and found Simone dead.

A manhunt was launched to locate Parker, who was found dead the following day in a toilet cubicle at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

When Simone's family didn't hear from her, they knew something was wrong

Family picture Young woman with long dark hair with striking eye makeup and a nose piercing looking straight at the camera — When Simone's family didn't hear from her, they knew something was wrong

The coroner said it was not for the court to "determine why he took the actions he did" on February 26 last year.

Parker's family expressed their condolences to Simone's family.

Karina says Simone was "such a big part of our lives"

Family picture Karina, who has long eyelashes and brown hair, sings into a microphone while bathed in green stage lights. — Karina says Simone was "such a big part of our lives"

"Trying to get used to a world without her here is just so difficult," says Karina.

"It's still odd not seeing her on social media; not speaking to her on the phone; not bumping into her when we're out popping out.

"In my mind, for her just to be gone, that doesn't work for me as her sister. I find that very, very difficult to comprehend – that she's just gone."

The case of Simone's killing has been closed and there will be no court hearing to confirm what happened.

However, a domestic homicide review is taking place and will report at a later date.

Det Supt Dave Taylor says such events are "devastating" for families

Emma Baugh/BBC Plain clothed detective with grey hair wearing a striped shirt and dark blue suit in front of a police car. — Det Supt Dave Taylor says such events are "devastating" for families

Det Supt Dave Taylor, head of protecting vulnerable people at Cambridgeshire Police, admits the time that processes take make it more difficult for Simone's family.

"The police investigation takes place first and then it passes on to the coroner, but it does take time, sadly," he says.

"We signpost the families to support agencies that can help them and assign family liaison officers to help them understand the process."

Mandy Geraghty, from Peterborough Women's Aid, says it is sad Simone's family still don't have answers

Emma Baugh/BBC Mandy Geraghty looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a dark patterned top, and sits in front of a calm green picture. — Mandy Geraghty, from Peterborough Women's Aid, says it is sad Simone's family still don't have answers

Karina has been supported by Peterborough Women's Aid since Simone's death.

The charity's chief executive, Mandy Geraghty, says: "It's really very sad that, a year on, they don't have everything tied up in terms of getting closure.

"There's lots of things outstanding from the authorities that would lead the family to know more information about what happened, and I think it's really sad that they can't do that."