Police charge Bestival victim boyfriend with manslaughter

Police have charged the musician boyfriend of the model daughter of Holby City star John Michie with manslaughter, after she was found dead at a music festival.

Ceon Broughton, 28, from Enfield, north London, has been charged with the manslaughter of Louella Eve Fletcher-Michie who died at the Bestival music festival in September, Dorset Police said. 

The body of Louella Michie, 25, was found off a path next to a secluded wooded area on the edge of the Bestival site in Dorset at 1am on September 11 last year.

Louella Michie, was found dead in a wooded area of Bestival music festival, in Dorset less than an hour after turning 25

Louella Michie's boyfriend Ceon Broughton (couple pictured together) has now been charged with manslaughter

Louella Michie’s boyfriend Ceon Broughton (couple pictured together) has now been charged with manslaughter

Her actor father and his wife Carol, 60, drove 130 miles from their London home to the site having reportedly received a panicked phone call and a WhatsApp map pinpointing her location.

They were refused entry to the site by security but Louella’s body was later found at around 1am.

Her heartbroken father told The Sun: ‘We’ve lost our angel.

John Michie and daughters Louella, left, and Daisy, right, arrive at Banqueting House in London for Plan UK's Because I am a Girl Gala Dinner 2014

John Michie and daughters Louella, left, and Daisy, right, arrive at Banqueting House in London for Plan UK’s Because I am a Girl Gala Dinner 2014

‘It was just a tragic mistake, a tragic accident. She touched so many lives. She was so very positive, so bright. She had such energy. The tributes to her have been incredible.’

A source told newspaper her death could be linked to an unknown substance, which was ‘too powerful’.

Her father had posted a heartbreaking picture of her excitedly sewing her outfit to his Instagram account on Wednesday, with the caption ‘Sewing for Bestival’.

Talking after his daughter’s passing , Mr Michie has said his ‘angel’ daughter’s death at Bestival was a ‘tragic accident’ even though police had arrested a man on suspicion of her murder.

Family handout photo of Louella Michie, the daughter of former Coronation Street and Taggart star John Michie

Family handout photo of Louella Michie, the daughter of former Coronation Street and Taggart star John Michie

The 60-year-old actor spoke out after Louella was found dead in isolated woodland on the edge of the family-friendly music festival in Dorset. 

The alarm was raised at the festival shortly before 1am when Miss Michie disappeared shortly after the headline set by the Pet Shop Boys.

Police began looking for her when friends said she had disappeared after watching the Pet Shop Boys on Sunday night at Bestival, held on the Lulworth Estate on the Jurassic Coast. 

On-site police were alerted and her body was found on the edge of the site, which covers hundreds of acres close to the tourist landmark Durdle Door. 

The woodland where her body was found was cordoned off and forensic officers combed the site.

Michie posted a heartbreaking picture of his daughter excitedly sewing her outfit for Bestival days to his Instagram account

Michie posted a heartbreaking picture of his daughter excitedly sewing her outfit for Bestival days to his Instagram account

Det Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire said at the time: ‘Following the discovery of the woman’s body we have now launched an investigation into her death. We have specially trained officers supporting her family at this very difficult time.

‘We are working closely with the festival organisers and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the incident to contact Dorset Police.’

An initial post-mortem examination carried out at the time showed no clear signs of an assault. 

Sources close to the family revealed that her parents dashed to the site as soon as they received the news.

Further examinations have been carried out, including toxicology tests.

The scene at Bestival where Miss Michie's body was discovered by police on the edge of the festival site, which covers hundreds of acres close to the landmark Durdle Door

The scene at Bestival where Miss Michie’s body was discovered by police on the edge of the festival site, which covers hundreds of acres close to the landmark Durdle Door

Mr Michie, who also starred in Coronation Street and Holby City, and his partner Carol, 66, a former dancer, have two other children, Daisy, 28, and Sam, 26.

They were comforted by friends at their north London home.

Michie is best known as playing Rovers Return landlord Karl Munro where he had the distinction of burning down the street’s favourite pub in one of the soap’s most gripping storylines.

He also starred in Taggart playing DI Robbie Ross for 12 years, and is currently playing neurosurgeon Guy Self in BBC’s medical drama Holby City.

Michie is best known as playing Rovers Return landlord Karl Munro where he had the distinction of burning down the street's favourite pub

Michie is best known as playing Rovers Return landlord Karl Munro where he had the distinction of burning down the street’s favourite pub

Woman for all seasons: Pictures from her Instagram account she her on summer travels (left) and on a snowboarding break (right)

The 60-year-old has two other children, Daisy, 27, a stylist, and Sam, 26, a music video director.

Arsenal football fan Louella, the youngest of his three children, worked as a dancer and lived in north London. 

She inherited her expert dance ability from her mother and was represented by the Mass Movement agency. 

Paying tribute to Louella, her father described her as 'so very positive, so bright, so out there'

Paying tribute to Louella, her father described her as ‘so very positive, so bright, so out there’

Louella pictured having fun on London Bridge, with Tower Bridge visible behind her

Louella pictured having fun on London Bridge, with Tower Bridge visible behind her

She was the oldest daughter of Mr Michie and Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip

She was the oldest daughter of Mr Michie and Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip

Louella, whose godfather was One Foot In The Grave Star Richard Wilson, was able to perform ballet, bellydance, Bollywood, breakdancing, contemporary, disco, folk, jazz, rock and roll, salsa, swing, tango and tap genres.

She also worked as a model where her long blonde hair, green eyes and petite frame – a size eight – were much in demand through The Eye Casting.

She is understood to have worked for House of Voga, in London, where she led fitness classes.

Voga is a fusion of Yoga and Voguing, fitness and fashion, set to an 80s House beat and designed to empower, tone, get fit and stay flexible. 

Bestival was held last year for the first time at Lulworth Castle in Lulworth, Dorset, after being staged in the Isle of Wight since its inception in 2004.

(Left to right) Sam, Daisy and John Michie, Carol Fletcher and Louella Michie Celebrities arrive at David Gest's Celebrity Dinner Party at the Tower Hilton on Tooley Street, London, in April 2015

(Left to right) Sam, Daisy and John Michie, Carol Fletcher and Louella Michie Celebrities arrive at David Gest’s Celebrity Dinner Party at the Tower Hilton on Tooley Street, London, in April 2015

Her father (pictured on the Alan Titchmarsh Show in 2014) has also appeared in Taggart and Casualty

Her father (pictured on Loose Women) has also appeared in Taggart and Casualty

Her father (pictured left, on the Alan Titchmarsh Show in 2014 and right, on Loose Women in the same year) has also appeared in Taggart and Casualty

The 25-year-old was an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club (pictured alongside a fellow Gunners fan)

The 25-year-old was an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club (pictured alongside a fellow Gunners fan)

In total, 22,000 people attended the festival whose performers included the Pet Shop Boys, The XX and Dizzie Rascal. 

On the first night of the festival, Dorset Police had warned people about rogue pale blue ecstasy pills that were in circulation and asked anyone who came across them to dispose of them.

It was claimed security manning the area near to where Louella’s body was found was ‘woefully understaffed’ on the night of her death. 

Some 30,000 revellers descended on the site for the four-day event but forensic officers were working at the scene as the festival came to a close and a cordon remains in place. 

Chizzy Akudolu, who starred alongside Louella’s father in Holby City and is on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, posted a message on Twitter in support of her former colleague.   

She said: ‘A good mate just lost his daughter. I can’t imagine what he and his family are going through. Life man. Tell someone you love them. Do it now’.

Her social media profiles show her attending Glastonbury (left) and a string of other festivals and trendy gigs over the summer

Louella, whose godfather was One Foot In The Grave Star Richard Wilson, was able to perform an array of dance styles 

Louella, whose godfather was One Foot In The Grave Star Richard Wilson, was able to perform an array of dance styles 

As well as her celebrity parents, Louella leaves behind older siblings Daisy and Sam

As well as her celebrity parents, Louella leaves behind older siblings Daisy and Sam

In an earlier statement, his agent said: ‘Sadly, I can confirm the tragic death of John Michie’s daughter, Louella, at Bestival.

‘John and his wife Carol ask that the privacy of their family be respected at this traumatic time.’

Michie and Carol met when she did the choreography and John did the dancing and ate the crisps in a Walkers advert nearly 30 years ago.

He said: ‘I thought she was stunning and, when I found out she was in Hot Gossip, I thought, “Oh my God”.

‘I made sure I sat beside her at lunch and got her number.

‘I told her I was organising a night at a rock ‘n’ roll club in London and asked her if she’d be interested since she was into dance. She said, “Yes”, and a few days later I called her.’

Arsenal football fan Louella (pictured at a Halloween party), the youngest of his three children, worked as a dancer and also lived in North London

Arsenal football fan Louella (pictured at a Halloween party), the youngest of his three children, worked as a dancer and also lived in North London

Her mother, Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip

Her mother, Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip and Pan’s People (middle in right picture)

She also worked as a model where her long blonde hair, green eyes and petite frame, a size eight, were much in demand through The Eye Casting

She also worked as a model where her long blonde hair, green eyes and petite frame, a size eight, were much in demand through The Eye Casting

She inherited her expert dance ability from her mother and was represented by the Mass Movement agency

She inherited her expert dance ability from her mother and was represented by the Mass Movement agency

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