Woman, 23, believed to have been killed by ex-colleague she warned police about, inquest hears
30.10.2023 - 16:31
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A man believed to have fatally stabbed his former colleague after becoming 'obsessed' with her had been reported to police over stalking, an inquest has heard. Michael Sellars, 35, is believed to have inflicted 10 stab wounds on Gracie Spinks, 23.
She died six months after refusing to pursue a romantic relationship with Sellars, the inquest jury has been told. Sellars was later found dead 150 metres away.
Chesterfield Coroners' Court heard today (October 30) that Sellars 'could not accept' and 'did not respect' her decision not to pursue a relationship. Ms Spinks had reported Sellars to both their employer and the police over stalking concerns in the months before their deaths, on the morning of June 18, 2021.
READ MORE: Grinning delivery driver inhaled laughing gas before killing girl, 15, in horror crash
READ MORE: 'Everything inside me ruptured in the horrific crash that killed my dad... then I had to make a decision'
He was given 'words of advice' by officers, the inquest heard. But they took no action when a bag of weapons was found near where her horse was stabled in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, which included a note saying 'do not lie', little more than a month prior to their deaths.
At the scene of his death, Sellars was found to have left a note saying he 'could not deal with all of her lies'. Matthew Kewley, assistant coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, described the note as one of 'various pieces of evidence' that Sellars had killed Ms Spinks and then taken his own life.
Resuming the inquest today, he said: “Gracie left home early to go and see her horse in the field. Just after 8am, a number of other people arrived at the field and Gracie was found lying on the ground and a man was seen running away,
“It was