THE family of a vulnerable woman, killed by her housemate while in supported accommodation in Uxbridge, have spoken of their loss after an inquest found her death could have been prevented.

Bathsheba Shepherd, known to her family as Kay, sustained fatal injuries when she was stabbed by Emmanuel Willems in the flat that they shared in November 2015.

Following her death, a serious incident investigation was carried out that highlighted a number of concerns.

Aimee Brackfield, of Simpson Millar, who represented Kay’s family at the inquest, said: “While it has been extremely difficult for the family to accept [the] death could have been prevented, they welcome the coroner’s conclusion, as well as the recommendations for change. 

The coroner concluded that, had Kay and her housemate not been allocated to live together and had effective risk assessments regularly conducted, the death could have been prevented.

Diagnosed with a range of medical and mental health issues, 50-year-old Kay was provided housing in Uxbridge in October 2014. She was assessed as requiring weekly support from a worker at the charity, Hestia.

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Emmanuel Willems, who had a history of drug abuse, moved into the flat several months later.

In the months that followed, there were significant and recurrent issues between the housemates.

Willems had delusionary thoughts about Kay and, in July 2015, stabbed himself. While in hospital receiving treatment, he disclosed he could have stabbed her instead.

Despite this, and growing evidence that the two were not getting along, he was discharged back to their shared flat.

On November 11, 2015, he fatally stabbed Kay in the chest. He was eventually found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Robert Adams, Kay’s son, said: “This loss, under such tragic and preventable circumstances, continues to have a profound effect on our family.

“It is our hope that any lessons learned and changes that are put in place are shared widely across the NHS and that no-one should suffer, as we have, in the future.”