THE Metropolitan Police were ordered yesterday to explain why a known stalker was free to shoot dead a beautician at the Harvey Nichols department store in London.
Clare Bernal had repeatedly complained to officers that Michal Pech was a menace who had threatened her after their brief relationship ended.
The 22-year-old beautician was shot by Pech, who was high on cocaine, as she worked at a cosmetics counter at the store. After shooting her four times in the head the former Slovakian soldier, who was on bail for harassing her, turned the gun on himself.
Paul Knapman, the Westminster Coroner, said that he would ask the police to answer criticisms made by Miss Bernal’s mother, Patricia Bernal, 50, over their handling of Pech, 30, in the months leading up to the shooting.
He will also call on Revenue & Customs to explain why the former Harvey Nichols security guard was able to smuggle a Luger weapon into the country with apparent ease.
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The Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service will also be asked if the legal system could have prevented the murder.
Joshua Dubin, for Mrs Bernal, told the inquest that the police, courts and Customs had failed to protect Miss Bernal. He called for a wider inquiry into the issues surrounding her death.
Patricia Bernal’s former husband, Martin Bernal, wrote to the court to oppose the inquest being extended. He said: “I strongly urge you to close the inquest as soon as possible for the sake of my two sons, James and Phil, myself and all of Clare’s family and friends, who are grieving her loss.”
Addressing Westminster Coroner’s Court, Dr Knapman said: “With no enthusiasm whatsoever and with my apologies to Mr Bernal and his two sons, I shall reconvene this inquest after I have contacted various public authorities and made inquiries from them.”
Pech had been arrested twice for stalking his former girlfriend, who had reported him to police and the store, which then dismissed him. He spent eight days in Belmarsh prison after being found hiding outside her home in Dulwich, southeast London.
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He appeared at Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court and admitted harassing Miss Bernal. He was released on bail while pre-sentence reports were prepared. The conditions of his bail were to have no contact with his former girlfriend.
In September last year, two weeks after his court appearance, he entered the Knightsbridge store, crept up behind Miss Bernal and shot her in the back of the head and three times in the face. He then fired a shot into the ceiling before shooting himself in the head. An earlier inquest ruled that he committed suicide.
The inquest into the death of Miss Bernal, originally from Orpington, Kent, will resume in May.
BRIEF ENCOUNTER THAT LED TO DEATH
Autumn 2003 Clare Bernal starts work at Harvey Nichols. Michal Pech arrives in England on student visa, five years after deserting Slovak Army
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September 2004 Pech works as a security guard at store
January 2005 Miss Bernal and Pech have a three-week relationship
March 30 Miss Bernal reports Pech to police and store for stalking her
April 4 Pech suspended
April 6 Pech arrested when he returns to store for disciplinary hearing
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April 10 Pech arrested near Miss Bernal’s Dulwich flat and charged with harassment and breaching bail. He was remanded in Belmarsh for eight days then released on bail
April 25 Pech travels to Slovakia, buys firearm. Returns to Britain 3½ months later with Luger
August 31 Pech pleads guilty to charges and is bailed for pre-sentence reports
September 13 He shoots Miss Bernal four times in the head before committing suicide