TWO police officers face misconduct meetings over the murder of a Blandford mum-of-three.

Hairdresser Katrina O’Hara was stabbed to death at Jock’s Barbers last year. She had been involved in an extra-marital relationship with her killer, Stuart Thomas.

Less than two weeks before the murder, a court heard Thomas abducted and threatened to kill Miss O’Hara. He was arrested in late December 2015 and released on bail, on the condition that he did not contact her.

Just two days before Miss O’Hara died, she was visited by a police domestic abuse adviser who made a request for alarms to be fitted to her property.

On January 7 2016, Miss O’Hara, 44, was found in the East Street barbers with two stab wounds to her chest. She died minutes later.

Thomas, who had pinned Miss O’Hara against a car before chasing her into the barber’s shop, was found in a nearby garden with injuries to his wrist which were so severe he needed surgery to try to restore the use of his left hand.

Thomas denied a charge of murder, but was convicted at Winchester Crown Court after a trial last summer.

Shortly after the killing, officers from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announced an investigation into Dorset Police.

Six police officers and a civilian police worker were served with misconduct notices in July last year. However, of the seven, just two will now attend misconduct meetings.

An IPCC spokesperson said: “The IPCC investigation into previous contact between Dorset Police and Katrina O’Hara and with Stuart Thomas is now complete.

“An acting sergeant and a detective constable will both face a misconduct meeting to determine whether they have a case to answer for alleged failings in their contact with Miss O’Hara and Stuart Thomas. 

“Dorset Police agreed with the IPCC that the actions of a 
detective inspector and a police constable fell below the standards expected of them, and they will be given management action. 

“A further three constables, a sergeant and a member of police staff have no case to answer for misconduct.”

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said there will be no comment while the investigation is ongoing. However, the meetings will not be held in public as there is “no legislative requirement” to do so, he said.
If it is found that there is a case to answer, the information will be published by the IPCC.

Thomas, of Salisbury Road, was sentenced to life in prison.