The devastated mother of a care worker driven to suicide by an abusive former boyfriend has condemned police for failing to take action against him and vowed to get justice for her daughter.
Meera Dalal, 25, was emotionally and physically abused by her ex-partner before she took her own life in February last year, an inquest heard.
Despite being reported to police several times during and after their relationship of three years, no action was ever taken against him.
A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting suicide on the day Meera died but was released with no further action.
Meera Dalal, 25, was emotionally and physically abused by her ex-partner before she took her own life. Despite being reported to police several times, no action was ever taken against him
On the day of Meera’s death, a 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting suicide but was released with no further action
Meera’s mother Daksha Dalal, 55, has condemned the police for failing to take action against the ex-boyfriend and has vowed to get justice
Her mother Daksha Dalal, 55, now wants police to disclose any evidence they hold so her family can consider a private prosecution.
Today she spoke for the first time about her heartache and says although she will never get over the death she is determined to get justice for her daughter.
Mrs Dalal also revealed Meera left a heartbreaking note to her saying: ‘If there is kindness in your heart please forgive me.’
She said: ‘I feel totally let down. My feelings should be considered by the law as a mother.
‘I’m just looking for a positive outcome. I seriously felt as if I would get some justice from the police but I didn’t.
‘A loss of a child is an intense grief that you will never, ever be able to overcome.’
Meera, a hospital liaison officer, killed herself at her family home in Syston, Leics., where her father discovered her body.
Mrs Dalal added: ‘She left a note and the police showed me.
‘The note showed how much she loved us and what we’d done for her, especially when she mentioned saying: ‘if there was little kindness in your heart to forgive me, please. I just live for that. She loved us so much and she thanked us for all that we had done to her.
‘It’s heart breaking when I read it.
‘Meera was an extrovert, she was fun-loving, very bubbly, many friends – she had friends all over the world.
‘A very popular girl in the school and suddenly she just changed to becoming introvert and quiet and not smiling.
Hospital liaison officer Meera, pictured above in a black dress, killed herself at her family home in Syston, Leics., where her father discovered her body
Meera’s mother Daksha Dalal, 55, now wants police to disclose any evidence they hold so her family can consider a private prosecution
Meera, pictured above with father Ashok, left a heartbreaking note to her mother saying: ‘If there is kindness in your heart please forgive me.’
Mrs Dalal is now trying to obtain copies of her daughter’s medical records, along with other evidence held by Leicestershire Police – but is still waiting for the information
‘I felt there was something wrong but she didn’t mention anything until October.
‘And I took her to the hospital, she couldn’t walk.
‘When I went to the hospital the lady at the desk said to me she’s been here a number of times – and that totally broke me.
‘I’ll never ever get over her death. It sometimes gets worse by the day. It’s like a pain in my heart.
‘A loss of a child is an intense grief that you’ll never ever be able to overcome – I will never be able to overcome this grief. Simply never.’
Mrs Dalal is now trying to obtain copies of her daughter’s medical records, along with other evidence held by Leicestershire Police – but is still waiting for the information.
She added: ‘I’m still waiting for what I’ve requested, which is what I’m entitled.
‘I had a couple of dealings with the police when she was being abused.
‘One night she didn’t answer the phone.
‘She went to a work do and he dragged her in the car, pulled her keys and he took her in the car all night.
‘I kept ringing to see if she was alright. I didn’t know what was going on.
‘At 1am or 2am he had taken her key, drove round all night pulling her hair, hitting her and strangling her.
‘This is what he did – we called the police then.
‘She was so scared, petrified that he kept saying to her he is going to hurt her nieces, my granddaughters.
‘The police were informed but she wouldn’t give her name because she was frightened.
‘I just want some co-operation from the police now, they couldn’t help then but they might be able to help me now.
Mrs Dalal has been raising awareness of domestic abuse since her daughter’s death through a Facebook page in her memory, and says many victims have contacted her.
One woman left her husband and stayed with Meera’s parents for two months while she found somewhere else to live.
She said: ‘I got a message saying “thank you for raising awareness, I got away from him”.
‘If it’s one person that I can help, that’s good. I really want to change the law.
‘I want to fight for the women in the country.
‘If I could help one girl, one child or somebody’s daughter, that would make me happy.’
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: ‘Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Meera Dalal who died on 15 February 2016, police found no evidence to warrant a prosecution being brought by the CPS.
‘As a result of her death, and previous contact between Leicestershire Police and Meera, an inquiry was conducted by the IPCC, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to consider misconduct proceedings and there was no case to answer for the officers involved.’
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated the conduct of four police officers, but found there was no case to answer for misconduct.
AN IPCC spokesperson said: ‘On the basis of the evidence available, and at the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator formed the opinion that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable misconduct meeting could find that any of the officers had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, Duties and Responsibilities.’
A petition to change the laws to protect victims of domestic abuse has been set up by the family and has gained more than 500 signatures in five days. and can be found here.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details.