Jo Shaw: Police had contact with Bristol house explosion victim four days before she was killed by ex-partner
The police watchdog will examine whether officers did enough to protect a mother who died in the explosion. It turned out that the mother spoke to the police four days before her death.
Jo Shaw, 35, was fatally injured in an explosion at her home in Sterncourt Road, Bristol, on May 3.
His former partner, 41-year-old Ryan Kelly, also died in the incident that occurred after the explosive device was activated.
Nearly a month after the deadly blast, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating Ms Shaw and Mr Kelly’s contacts with Avon and Somerset Police before their deaths.
The IOPC said police last contacted Ms Shaw four days before the explosion and the investigation will look at past incidents over a five-year period from May 2021.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected at this very difficult time.
“We are independent of the police and it is important that we conduct a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened before the tragic events of 3 May.
“There is a significant history of police interference with Mr Kelly’s behaviour, including allegations of persistent stalking, harassment and assault, which we will need to examine as part of our investigation.
“As part of our investigations we are examining extensive documents detailing this history.
“We will keep all relevant parties updated as our investigation, which is in its early stages, progresses.”
Avon and Somerset Police are treating the cause of the explosion as intentional and have recorded Ms Shaw’s death as a homicide. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with his death.
Three people, including children, were slightly injured.
Separate opening inquests heard Ms Shaw died from a “penetrating fragmentation blast injury to the chest and pelvis”, while Mr Kelly suffered “blast injuries to the head, neck, torso and limbs”.
Inquests are due to resume at Avon Coroner’s Court in August.
Police previously said they received a call at 6:17 a.m. from a person inside the home reporting a domestic incident and saying a man they knew had broken into the home.
The caller remained on the line while officers were dispatched to the home, and at 6:30 a.m. the caller told police the man was believed to have explosives.
About two minutes later an explosion occurred at the property, killing Ms Shaw and Mr Kelly.
Officers arrived at the site at 6.34am and fire and ambulance services were available shortly afterwards.
While residents of the surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution, searches were carried out by the Army to ensure that the area was safe.
Searches were also carried out at an address where Mr Kelly lived in Speedwell. There was no need to evacuate in that area.
