The son of domestic abuse victim Michaela Hall has launched legal action against Devon and Cornwall Police and the probation service over systemic failures leading to her murder in Mount Hawke, Cornwall.
Michaela Hall, aged 49, was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife in her bedroom on 31 May 2021 by her partner, Lee Kendall. Kendall was a serial offender with 47 previous convictions across 78 offences, with authorities having recorded 16 previous assaults committed by him against Michaela.
A 2024 coroner’s inquest identified critical institutional errors preceding the murder:
The probation service omitted details of a previous strangulation incident from court reports
Kendall was wrongly classified as medium risk rather than high risk upon release
He was permitted to return to Michaela’s address without enhanced supervision two weeks before the killing
Police officers called to the property on the night of the attack left without entering the home
Truro Crown Court heard that Kendall consumed five bottles of wine before fatally stabbing Michaela during an argument. Kendall was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
Now aged 18, Michaela’s son Shaun Hall, represented by the Good Law Project, has initiated formal civil claims against the police and probation service to challenge the handling of high-risk domestic violence perpetrators.
Credit:Shaun Hall
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the UK Register Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.