Home / Crime and Justice / System Failures Led to Woman's Brutal Stabbing Death
System Failures Led to Woman's Brutal Stabbing Death
3 Jul
Summary
- Victim suffered over 100 stab wounds; son admitted manslaughter.
- Inquest cited serious failures by state agencies contributing to death.
- Family decries broken system for ignoring documented threats.
Bernadette Rosario, 61, was found dead in her home in Penwithick, Cornwall, on March 28, 2023, having been stabbed more than 100 times by her son, Michael Rowe. An inquest at Cornwall Coroners' Court concluded that serious failures by various state agencies contributed to her death, which was ruled an unlawful killing. Rowe, who had made multiple threats to kill his mother, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to a hospital order.
The victim's family, wearing purple in her favorite color, spoke of her kindness and how she was "brutally murdered by her son because she was let down by a broken system." They highlighted issues such as incorrect risk assessments and a lack of collaboration between agencies, noting that information sharing could have been improved. The family expressed a belief that without significant funding and an overhaul of working practices, similar tragedies will continue to occur.
Coroner Andrew Cox described the inquest as challenging, emphasizing the need for fundamental changes to prevent future "foreseeable and avoidable tragedies." He suggested senior members of state agencies should collaborate to address the issues raised in this case. Cox extended his condolences to the family, expressing sorrow for the circumstances of their meeting and hope that their experience would prevent similar future incidents.
