Truro, Cornwall – The tragic death of charity worker Michaela Hall at the hands of her partner, Lee Kendall, has raised serious concerns about the failures in the probation service that allowed a serial violent offender to commit femicide. Despite numerous warning signs and a history of abuse, Kendall was wrongly assessed as only a “medium risk” by probation workers. This incorrect assessment ultimately led to Hall’s untimely death on May 31, 2021.
Kendall had a violent past, with 34 pieces of intelligence documenting his abuse towards Hall and nearly 50 convictions for various offenses. The probation service, as well as other agencies and social services, were aware of Kendall’s violent tendencies, including an incident where he attempted to strangle Hall. However, these red flags were overlooked, and Kendall was deemed a lower risk than he actually was.
Michaela’s father, Peter Hall, expressed outrage at the systematic failings that contributed to his daughter’s death, pointing out the grave errors made by the probation service. He emphasized that Michaela paid the ultimate price for these shortcomings and questioned how many other offenders are being wrongly assessed and released back into society.
An inquest revealed that Kendall should have been classified as a “high” or “very high risk” individual, but an unqualified staff member conducted the assessment, which was then signed off by a supervisor without proper scrutiny. This lapse in judgment, combined with Kendall’s release under minimal supervision, tragically culminated in Hall’s murder just two weeks later.
The details of this case shed light on a pattern of failures within the probation service, as seen in other instances where offenders wrongly assessed have gone on to commit heinous crimes. The systemic issues within the probation service, compounded by external failings from other agencies, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Michaela’s family is now considering legal action against the agencies responsible for the failures that led to her death. They are determined to seek justice for Michaela and ensure that her story serves as a catalyst for much-needed improvements in the system. As the community mourns the loss of a beloved mother and dedicated charity worker, the call for accountability and reform grows louder.