The heartbroken mum of a 12-year-old daughter who was horrifically raped and bullied is demanding answers following her tragic overdose.

Semina Halliwell, from Southport, had moved from St Patrick’s Primary School to Stanley High School in 2020 when the year seven pupil had suffered from months of bullying and harassment after allegedly being sexually abused by a boy in January 2021, an inquest concluded on February 13, 2025 heard.

In March 2021, Semina told her mum about the alleged rape, which had occurred in January. She also showed her mum a video of her being attacked by a group of other children, who were not Stanley High School pupils. Rachel reported the alleged rape and assaults to the police.

In her evidence at Semina’s inquest, Rachel said police attending their home on March 28, 2021 had behaved “unprofessionally”, telling her daughter “It’s going to take 18 months to two years to go to court, and do you really want it hanging over your head?” and “It’s your word against his”, Liverpool Echo reported.

However, Coroner Johanna Thompson said that while the officers may have been perceived as “unprofessional and uncaring”, the meeting was “not conducted with any impropriety on behalf of the officers”. Detective sergeant Christopher Loughead previously told the court he had explained the various potential “pitfalls” that could arise during an investigation, as “ultimately there were no witnesses to the events on those days.”

On the night of June 8 – one day before Semina was due to give a video interview about the alleged rape – Merseyside Police were once again called to the family home. At around 12am on June 9, Semina went upstairs, saying she had “had enough”. She then made a number of videos of herself crying and miming to songs on her phone, followed by a video of what appeared to be empty pill packets on her bed.

She was found by her older brother but appeared fine as she spoke to him. When he realised she had taken her mother’s prescription tablets, an ambulance was called to the address. Rachel explained how when she was sat in the back of the ambulance she overheard a conversation between the paramedic and another member of staff on the radio who said Semina needed to be “blue lighted to Alder Hey as fast as you can”.

In the three days that followed, Semina’s body began to shut down. Rachel said: “The doctors came to me and said that her organs are going to fail and she’s going to have a heart attack. I was like ‘What on earth are you talking about?’. We had to watch her die…There was nothing they could do. I have to say Alder Hey were amazing and they did every single thing they could to save her because even though her body was dying, her brain was fully functioning.”

Semina suffered three heart attacks while in hospital. Her fourth heart attack on June 9, 2021 would prove fatal. Rachel said: “On Saturday morning she had her final heart attack while I was sitting with her. That’s when she left us.”

Following the inquest, which concluded this month, Rachel said she felt “enormous dissatisfaction that the failures by the agencies involved in Semina’s care have not been acknowledged.” Coroner Ms Thompson declined to engage Article 2, the right to life – which is used when someone dies in custody, or when a state body, such as a council or NHS Trust, is thought to have failed to protect someone under their care.

The court heard Semina had been initially referred to CAMHS in 2018 following issues with self harm, which were said to be “superficial”. She remained under mental health services until the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, when she was offered telephone appointments which she did not attend.

She was re-referred to CAMHS in September 2020 following further reports of self harm, and was diagnosed with autism in January 2021. She also received support from social services and Stanley High School. Ms Thompson said: “The highly unusual circumstances in which Semina found herself makes her situation uniquely distinguishable.

“Based on the overall facts, I do not agree that Article 2 is engaged in this case. The evidence has not revealed to me any indication that a real and immediate risk to Semina’s life was known to any state agencies at any relevant point in time that would have made her death preventable by the state. Where any shortcomings were identified, I have no evidence other than speculation as to how matters might have evolved differently.”

Handing down a short narrative conclusion, she said: “Semina Halliwell had a complex social history. Her death arose as a consequence of taking an overdose of her mother’s prescription medication while in a state of distress and her intention at that time is unknown.”

Rachel also wants more “answers” from the agencies involved with Semina in the lead up to her death. She said: “I want answers and I want change. I want something in place, even if it saves just one child’s life, I will fight until I have made that change and it will be worth it because I don’t want another child to go through what Semina went through.”

In the inquest, Ms Thompson rejected submissions that Stanley High School, Sefton Council, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Merseycare had failed in their duties to save Semina, as they had not foreseen a “real and immediate risk of death” in her case.

In a statement issued by Merseyside Police following the conclusion of the inquest, a spokesperson said: “Following the inquest into the death of Semina Halliwell the Assistant Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens, Johanna Thompson, has this afternoon concluded that Semina Halliwell had a complex social history, her death arose as a consequence of her taking her mother’s prescription medication in distress, and her intent at that time is unknown.

“She also stated that there was no suggestion of any systemic breach on the part of Merseyside Police and she added there was no evidence authorities could have prevented Semina’s death by overdose. We would like to express our thoughts and condolences to Semina’s mum and family. No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child and we can only begin to try and understand their suffering following her death.”

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected] , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

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