THE identities of two of four women, reported for prosecution for assisting in the alleged covering-up the murder of show jumping rider Katie Simpson, were revealed in court this week.

Former show jumper Jonathan Creswell (35) previously of Briar Hill Gardens, Greysteel, but now with an address which cannot be published, is charged with murdering Katie Simpson on August 3rd 2020.

Previously Derry/Londonderry Magistrates Court heard four female associates of Creswell were being joined to the case for allegedly covering up in the aftermath of Katie’s death.

Court papers now show Rose De-Montmorency Wright (22) of Craigantlet Road, Newtownards, is accused of withholding information between October 9th 2020 and October 13th 2021 by knowing Creswell had committed assault.

She lived with Creswell, his partner (Katie’s elder sister) and their children, at the time of Katie’s death, later moving to England where she would be arrested and brought back to Northern Ireland for questioning.

Jill Robinson (41) from Blackfort Road, Omagh, who was the first to be arrested over the alleged cover-up, is accused of perverting the course of justice by taking Creswell’s clothes on August 3rd 2020 and washing them in an external launderette.

Another woman, who is also accused of perverting the course of justice and withholding information, has been granted an interim reporting restriction having claimed to be at risk of self-harm if publicly named.

Her lawyers are in the process of obtaining evidence by way of a psychiatric report.

Creswell claimed that having rescued Katie from an apparent suicide bid by hanging, he then placed her unresponsive into her own car before driving to meet an ambulance, as opposed to waiting for emergency services to arrive at the scene.

However, hospital medical staff were concerned given the lack of ligature marks on Katie’s body. There were however multiple injuries including extensive bruising to her lower right leg, inner thigh, both hands and intimate bleeding.

Creswell claimed Katie fell from a horse the previous day, before being trampled by it.

Katie Simpson tragically passed away in hospital just under a week later, aged just 21 years old.

A post-mortem found injuries on her arms and legs were, “consistent to being struck with a rod-type implement.”

A new PSNI policing team took over this case in January 2021, arresting Creswell within weeks.

Police believe Creswell “controlled and coerced Katie since she was 9 or 10”, first encountering her when he began what was to become a long-term relationship with her eldest sister.

This case was scheduled to be returned for trial on Wednesday (April 5th) at Derry/Londonderry Magistrates Court after significant delays which evoked warnings from District Judge Barney McElhome.

However, while the case against Creswell is almost ready to proceed, lawyers for the four women - who all work in the equestrian industry - expressed concerns as they had only received case papers the previous week and required time to study these in-depth.

Judge McElhome agreed to list the committal for all accused in this case to May 24th 2023.