Melissa Mathieson: Knowle care home to be prosecuted over death of 18-year-old eight years ago

Melissa Mathieson and her killer, Jason Conroy, were both residents at Alexandra House
Melissa Mathieson had complained about Jason Conroy to staff hours before he strangled her.Melissa Mathieson had complained about Jason Conroy to staff hours before he strangled her.
Melissa Mathieson had complained about Jason Conroy to staff hours before he strangled her.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will prosecute a Bristol-based residential care service over the death of 18-year-old, Melissa Mathieson.

Melissa Mathieson was strangled to death by Jason Conroy, who had a history of attempting to strangle women, in 2014.

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Both were residents at the Alexandra House care home, in Knowle, which looks after people aged 18 - 50 with autistic spectrum disorder and Asperger syndrome.

Melissa Mathieson and Jason Conroy were both residents of Alexandra House, in Knowle.Melissa Mathieson and Jason Conroy were both residents of Alexandra House, in Knowle.
Melissa Mathieson and Jason Conroy were both residents of Alexandra House, in Knowle.

Conroy had a necrophilia fetish and planned to have sex with Mathieson’s body after dragging her back to his room.

The HSE will prosecute Alexandra Homes with charges under Sections 2(1) and 3(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Section 2(1) of the act states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

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Section 3(1) states: “Except in such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all of his employees.”

Alexandra House was 100 miles from Mathieson’s family home though she was placed there as there was no local placement available.

She had been in the residential home for eight weeks and Conroy for just five weeks when she told staff he was stalking her and that she was scared.

Conroy was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015.

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