Four officers from Essex Police and a staff member are under investigation for possible misconduct regarding their interactions with a young mother who was murdered in Suffolk. Courtney Mitchell, 26, was murdered by Logan Burnett, 27, in Ipswich in August of the previous year.
Courtney, a mother of three, has previously reported both physical and verbal abuse inflicted by Burnett, according to Suffolk Police. This abuse encompassed purported threats of homicide.
Ms. Mitchell’s family stated that they are “now enduring our own life sentence without her, and it is the most challenging experience we have ever faced.” They stated: “She had a wealth of life yet to experience and numerous aspirations for the future, which we are confident she would have realised.” During the final six months of her life, that monster stripped everything from her.
Authorities were summoned to Burrell Road in the town shortly after 7:10 PM following reports of a lady being stabbed. Courtney received assistance from bystanders and paramedics, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries in the hospital shortly thereafter.
On the day of her lethal stabbing, Logan Burnett attempted to reach Courtney 22 times over a span of five hours. On that day, Burnett was in communication with the acquaintances of the duo, and witnesses said that he issued threats to harm Courtney.
CCTV recorded Logan Burnett walking towards the town centre in Ipswich, while Courtney was observed in the company of pals. The group observed Logan Burnett while across a bridge, at which juncture he turned and fled. Logan Burnett encountered the gang on Burrell Road, where he assaulted and lethally stabbed Courtney.
He absconded from the location and was apprehended in Ipswich the same morning. He was indicted for murder, to which he confessed before Ipswich Crown Court in November. Earlier this year, he received a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years.
The IOPC is currently examining prior interactions between Essex Police and Courtney. A compulsory referral from the force has been made, and four Essex Police officers along with a staff person have been informed that they are under investigation for possible misconduct.
A representative for the IOPC stated: “This does not imply that disciplinary actions will inevitably ensue.” Upon conclusion of our inquiry, we will determine if any police officers or personnel should undergo disciplinary action. We will instruct the police to investigate themselves.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper expressed, “I extend the condolences of all at Essex Police to Courtney’s family, as we have since the tragic actions of Logan Burnett in August of last year.” The life term imposed was the sole suitable measure the courts could enact, although it does little to alleviate the loss experienced by those who loved Courtney.
We continuously strive to enhance our operations and provide optimal support to every victim and member of the public on a daily basis. Since August 2024, we have augmented our cadre of contact handlers and are providing specialised training to all personnel in our contact management command to recognise crimes and assist individuals who reach out to us.
We have evaluated our communication with other agencies and now collaborate more closely with surrounding forces to ensure investigations progress swiftly and information is exchanged appropriately. We are fully cooperating with the coroner’s inquest and Dr. Liza Thompson’s Domestic violence Related Death Review to identify areas for further improvement within our force and to guarantee the highest standards of service for victims of domestic violence.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.