Christy Walshe murder: Killer showed controlling and coercive behaviour

Michael Strudwick “showed signs of coercive and controlling behaviour” before he shot Christy Walshe with a shotgun on January 13, 2019 in her home in Sutton Road, Southend.

Ms Walshe, 40, died two days later in hospital.

Strudwick, aged 33 at the time, who is serving a life sentence for murder, claimed to be drunk and on drugs during the day and that he and Ms Walshe would regularly take cocaine.

But now a domestic homicide review has found there were signs of controlling behaviour by Strudwick, who was allowed to stay when Ms Walshe was being assessed at A&E, and he tried to cancel an ambulance called by Ms Walshe.

The review, published by the Southend Community Safety Partnership, found four factors which could have contributed to Ms Walshe’s death.

The sawn off shotgun used to kill Christy Walshe

These were Strudwick’s dependency on alcohol, legal and illegal drugs affected his behaviour, with an escalation of taking drugs in the days leading up to the killing, Strudwick couldn’t cope with Ms Walshe’s grief over losing an ex-partner, and that he showed signs of coercive and controlling behaviour.

On August 6, 2018, the couple were taken to hospital with reports of “spontaneous” seizures, with Strudwick attending again two days later.

The review said: “They were both provided with adequate clinical care; however, further time could have been spent by the professionals involved enquiring into the causes of this unusual event.

“The panel are of the view that there was sufficient information given by one or both of them to raise suspicion in relation to their alcohol and drug intake.”

On December 6, 2018, Ms Walshe took an overdose and told staff at hospital she had done so because she was distressed following an argument with Strudwick.

READ MORE: Southend killer can't recall the day he shot his partner with a shotgun due to drugs

When she called the ambulance, Strudwick came onto the phone and told the operator she was “fine” – which was not forwarded to the attending ambulance crew.

The review said Ms Walshe received good care in hospital but staff should have been more “professionally curious” to explore the dynamics of their relationship.

It continued: “Adult B [Strudwick] was allowed to be present for the medical consultation and assessment with Martine [Ms Walshe] and this may have inhibited her ability to speak freely.

“Secondly, Adult B became distressed during the consultation and said he found it difficult to cope with Martine’s condition which could have explored more.”

Victim - Christy Walshe was shot dead in 2019

The review also found that Ms Walshe reported loss of prescriptions and was prescribed further medication with no real challenge, with Strudwick stating it was to feed their addictions, which could also be seen as controlling behaviour.

Ms Walshe’s GP, Queensway Surgery, and the Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, told the review that following her death the lead nurse for safeguarding has conducted training within the practice around domestic abuse, with a “red light” marker for records for vulnerable adults.

The review gave 13 recommendations, including all agencies being aware of coercive control and safeguarding and the important of professional curiosity.

Tracy Hawkings, chair of the review, said: “Key recommendations include training on coercive control, training to strengthen information sharing between agencies and a move over to electronic prescriptions to allow prescriptions to be tracked, particularly for vulnerable people. The partnership wish to share their deepest condolences to the family.

"Work is in progress to collaboratively ensure the recommendations highlighted are embedded across the system.”