The families of Naomi Hunte and Fiona Holm will join campaigners at a public meeting this weekend, as they continue their fight for justice and accountability over alleged police failures to protect both women from the same violent partner.
Naomi, 41, and Fiona, 48, were both of African-Caribbean heritage, with mental health conditions that made them particularly vulnerable.
Both were murdered by Carl Cooper, 66, a “serial domestic abuser” whose history of violence against multiple victims was known to the police.
Evidence suggests Naomi contacted the Metropolitan Police seven times to report Cooper before she was killed.
Fiona later reported Cooper for a serious assault while he was under investigation for Naomi’s murder. However, the case was closed.
She was subsequently killed while Cooper was on bail for Naomi’s murder.
Cooper was convicted of both murders in 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 35 years. Fiona’s body has never been found.
A Met Police spokesperson told Black Current News: “We have never stopped looking for Fiona’s body.
“We continue to have regular contact with her family via their dedicated family liaison officer and will update them with any developments in our ongoing investigation to find her.”
The families say delays by the Met Police in searching for Fiona gave Cooper the opportunity to dispose of key evidence.
Savannah Holm-Aderemi, Fiona’s daughter, said: “We want to find mum’s body and lay her to rest. We need the future to be better than it has been for our girls and boys.
“I feel angry and hurt. (…) Vulnerable people like mum and Naomi should be entitled to more support.”
Ten Met Police officers are currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in connection with alleged failures before and after the women’s deaths.
The Double Injustice campaign has been launched alongside Project Resist, with the families calling for changes to how victims of domestic abuse are protected, as well as accountability for what they describe as preventable murders.
The campaign is calling on police to renew the search for Fiona’s body and keep her family regularly updated, while urging witnesses with information to come forward.
It also seeks thorough investigations into alleged police misconduct and discrimination, alongside wider reform of domestic abuse policing, stronger protections for disabled and minoritised women and meaningful disciplinary action where police failures are identified.
“The police cannot be trusted to do what they are supposed to do. It’s a big let-down. It took a year for him to go and kill another lady. If they had done their job, he would not have been in a position to kill for a second time. It’s hard to understand why,” Basil Hunte, Naomi’s father, said.
Sophie Naftalin, a solicitor at Bhatt Murphy who represents both families, said Naomi and Fiona had been failed “in both life and death”.
“The Met knew of the risk Cooper posed to them, but neither woman was protected,” she said.
“Their murders were preventable and the failures in the investigations should have never happened.
“The families have now come together in their grief to launch a campaign to ensure that Naomi and Fiona’s voices are heard, to try and change how victims of domestic abuse are protected and to build support in their pursuit of justice and accountability.”
A public meeting will take place at Livesey Memorial Hall in Lewisham, south London, on Sunday 12 July, from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
Speakers will include Fiona’s daughter Savannah Holm-Aderemi, Naomi’s father Basil Hunte, Sophie Naftalin and Suresh Grover, founder of The Monitoring Group.
Responding to Black Current News, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Naomi Hunte and Fiona Holm.
“We have acknowledged there were serious failings in our handling of allegations against Carl Cooper, for which we are extremely sorry.
“Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command continue to appeal for information that could help us find Fiona. Evex32sAry piece of information received will be reviewed and acted upon, and Fiona’s family will be kept updated on any developments.”
The force said it had introduced several measures intended to strengthen its response to domestic abuse, including additional specialist officers, further training and a London-wide perpetrator programme.
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