Murder probe launched into death of model, 18, who fell 200ft from balcony after threesome with Bitcoin tycoon & wife
Ivana Smit, 18,
Advertisement
7
A murder probe has been launched into the death of a 18-year-old model
Credit: Newsflash
7
Cops had originally dismissed the Dutch model's death as an accident caused by a drug overdose
Credit: Social Media
7
Alex Johnson and his Indonesian wife Luna admitted to have a sexual relationship with the model
Credit: Facebook
7
Ivana plunged from the Persiaran Capsquare apartment block in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
She is believed to have
The couple admit to having had a threesome with Ivana on the night she died but deny any involvement in her death, and say they were asleep at the time of her fall.
Cops had originally dismissed the Dutch model's death as an accident caused by a drug overdose.
But judges gave her grieving mum, Christina Verstappen, permission to set aside a police verdict of "sudden death" and sue investigators for negligence.
Advertisement
read more news
Now the investigation into the Malaysian police file has revealed a shocking catalogue of errors.
Cops at first apparently failed to harvest DNA evidence from Ivana's body to see if anyone else had been involved in the tragic plunge.
Then, when they did find DNA belonging to Johnson under Ivana's fingernails two months later, it sat on file without any action.
Cops even allowed Johnson and Almazkyzy to flee the country a month later without any attempt to re-interview them, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur heard.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
Now cops and prosecutors have been ordered to reopen the investigation and pay Ivana's mother compensation and costs for her fight for justice.
A verdict on 29th July awarded the heartbroken mum nearly £200,000 in compensation for police negligence.
OnlyFans model left for dead after 'Dubai Porta Potty' party breaks silence… and reveals horror aftermath of ordeal
Christina had sued Inspector-General of Police Dang Wangi, investigating officer ASP Faizal Abdullah, the government Home Minister, and the Malaysian government.
She said they had all failed in their statutory duties and had been negligent in their investigation into what caused her daughter's death.
Advertisement
The judge also ordered that Abdullah be removed from the task force re-investigating the case.
Judge Roz Mawar Rozain said: "There were evidence preservation failures. There was inadequate witness and suspect handling.
"There was forensic evidence of neglect, and there was expert evidence of dismissal.
"The plaintiff is a direct victim, has suffered harm, and that harm suffered by the plaintiff is the direct and foreseeable consequence of the defendants' breach of duty."
Advertisement
She added: "This sequence of events reflects a fundamental breakdown in investigative procedures.
"The presence of DNA evidence linking a suspect to the deceased, especially under such suspicious circumstances, should have triggered prompt and decisive action to prevent
the suspect
from leaving the jurisdiction."
A post-mortem at the time found Ivana to have cocaine, alcohol, and an amphetamine called PMMA in her blood.
The couple denied having given Smit
drugs
or taking any themselves on the night that she died.
Advertisement
7
Picture shows Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen (left) with her daughter Ivana Smit (right)
Credit: Newsflash
7
Ivana Esther Robert Smit fell from a condominium in 2017
Credit: Newsflash
7
Ivana Esther Robert Smit, a Dutch model who fell from of a condominium in 2017. (@ivana_smit/Newsflash)
Credit: Newsflash
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Father of man who drowned in Grand Canal hopes plaque can be erected in son's memory
The American father of a homeless man who died in a double drowning last year in a canal in Dublin is urging the local council to erect a plaque in memory of his son. Alex Warnick, aged 42, lost his life alongside his 49-year-old friend Donal Scanlon from Co Kerry when they fell into the Grand Canal. Their remains were discovered by a passer-by at around 8am on July 6. Mr Warnick, who had moved to Ireland from the US, had been sleeping in a pop-up tent near Mr Scanlon at the time. An inquest into their deaths returned open verdicts because not all facts relating to what happened could be established. Alex Warnick had battled with addiction and had left home as a teenager before travelling to the UK and then to Ireland. His heartbroken father Greg, himself a former alcoholic, has made the difficult journey from his home in Oregon to visit Dublin for the first time since his son passed away. He told the Irish Examiner he wanted to thank his son's friends for caring for him, and to visit the place where he died. 'I think the fact I met with everyone, his family there [in Dublin], it continues to help a lot of people,' he said. It was a really touching time, I was really emotional to see how Alex was like a folk hero to his friends in Dublin. 'I wrote a song about him, I called it Angel Wash and there is a line it, 'I never saw the diamonds I only saw the coal', it was really true; there was two parts to Alex's life, and I didn't always see that. 'It really helped to go and meet his friends, to see where he died and to spend time with people who loved him. 'We met in the Garden of Remembrance, and around 75 people showed up. I couldn't believe it. It was so touching." Greg, in a beige cap, at the memorial for his son Alex Warnick in July. Mr Warnick said he gave his son's ashes to his friends and to his mother's sister, who also travelled to Dublin for the gathering in Alex's memory. 'I had made these T-shirts with a line drawing his brother did of him, I gave out my song on CD, and I had these small plastic vials with some ashes in them I just asked if anyone wanted them and they were all gone in 10 minutes, I thought it was best his friends do what they wanted with them. 'Then we went to the place where he drowned in the canal. It really was ridiculous, he was camped one foot from the canal, but there is no point in thinking about it now. 'What I would like now is to have a small permanent memorial there, and I am going to get in touch with the council to see if this will be possible'. Mr Warnick said the journey to Dublin was 'emotional', but that he was very happy he made the trip. 'It helped put everything to bed, I was really glad I got to see everyone and travel around Dublin," he said. "I know many of Alex's friends have addiction problems and I went to a meeting myself when I was there and brought some of them with me — just to show them there is support if you're ready, and this is what it's like'. Memorial for Alex Warnick set up by his friends and family. Picture: Alison O'Reilly Mr Warnick said he hopes his son 'has found peace'. 'We had seen him before he died, we had made our peace, and maybe he was ready. His mother had left him an inheritance after she died, and I think it was all too much for him — he had a life of problems, and our relationship had been difficult at times, but I think in the end it was tough for him. 'I would just like to have a memorial for him now, I think it would be a lovely thing to do.'
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Two arrested for ‘murder' after student, 20, killed in Cambridge as witnesses describe ‘screaming'
TWO men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a student. An investigation was launched after the 20-year-old was pronounced dead outside a block of flats in Cambridge yesterday. 1 Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder Credit: Bav Media The victim, who attended the EF International Language Campuses, was assaulted in Mill Park on Friday evening. Floral tributes have since been left at the scene of the attack. Witnesses told how they had heard "screaming" in the area, before cops arrived at around 11.30pm. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed a 21-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. Read more News Another man, 50, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both men - from the Cambridge area - are in custody at a local police station. A statement from the force read: "Two men have been arrested in connection with a murder in Cambridge yesterday. "The arrests follow a public appeal issued by detectives investigating the fatal assault of a 20-year-old man in Mill Park. Most read in The Sun "Police were called with reports of violence at 11.27pm yesterday. "The man was pronounced dead at 12.01am. "A 21-year-old man, from Cambridge, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. "A 50-year-old man from Cambridge, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Knifeman on loose as teenage boy, 19, stabbed to death in Powerleague football car park sparking murder probe "Both men remain in custody at Thorpe Wood Police Station." DI Dale Mepstead, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, added: 'We would like to thank the public for their support and assistance following our appeal. "The investigation remains ongoing, and we continue to urge anyone with information who has not yet come forward to contact us.' EF International Language Campuses Cambridge confirmed they were supporting staff and students following the "tragic event". A spokesperson told The Telegraph: 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our adult students was fatally injured last night in a public space. 'We are working closely with the local police, who are investigating the incident and have confirmed they made arrests. "We are providing support to all students and staff affected by this tragic event and have organised counselling sessions. 'Our thoughts are with the student's loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and we have offered our full support." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Tragedy as fourth body in three days found by bottom of cliffs at popular beauty spot
A FOURTH body has been found by the bottom of a beauty spot cliff in just three days. North Yorkshire Police's coastal team said the woman's body was found at Sandsend, near Whitby. 1 A fourth body has been found by the bottom of Sandsend, near Whitby, in just three days Credit: Getty The force added that the woman was aged and in her 50s and from the local area. She was spotted at 11.01am by a passerby who called emergency services. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner. The victim's family are being supported by specialist officers. read more in news It comes after cops yesterday launched an investigation into the sudden death of a woman in her 60s at a popular seaside beauty spot on July 31. While a day before, a man and a woman, both understood to be in their 40s, died after falling from the cliffs at Whitby. Her body was found below cliffs at Whitby Abbey in North Yorks., yesterday - hours after a couple allegedly Her death comes after a man and a woman, both understood to be in their 40s, died after falling from the cliffs at Whitby on July 30, as well as another woman, aged in her 60s, who was found by the cliffs near the pavillion on July 31. Most read in The Sun The latter two victims reportedly chatted to fellow walkers before allegedly leaping to their deaths hand-in-hand from the same cliffs. Their bodies were recovered from the rocks below the drop on Wednesday evening following the apparent suicide pact. Knifeman on loose as teenage boy, 19, stabbed to death in Powerleague football car park sparking murder probe Police are not linking this latest death to the alleged double suicide, which North Yorkshire Police continue to investigate. Brian Vickers, 63, who was attending a nearby steam rally, said: 'I saw the helicopter hovering and came down to see what was going on. 'I was told from somebody who has been walking along the path that he had come across them shortly before and they did not appear to be in distress. 'It was as if they were just going for a walk, there was nothing strange about it. 'About a dozen people witnessed it. They turned to face the sea and held hands and jumped." A member of the public alerted the police at 7.16pm on Wednesday after spotting a man and woman on the rocks below. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
