Louella Fletcher-Michie: Rapper appeals manslaughter conviction over drugs death of Holby City actor’s daughter

Judges will consider Ceon Broughton’s case at virtual hearing

A man is set to appeal his manslaughter conviction over the death of a Holby City actor’s daughter.

Rapper Ceon Broughton was handed an eight-and-a-half year sentence last year over the death of Louella Fletcher-Michie, who had a fatal reaction to the hallucinogenic drug 2CP at Bestival music festival in 2017.

Three appeal judges are scheduled to consider the case at a virtual Court of Appeal hearing on Wednesday.

Fletcher-Michie, the daughter of actor John Michie, was found dead in the early hours of 11 September – the day on which she should have celebrated her 25th birthday – in a wooded area on the edge of the festival site.

Her boyfriend, Broughton, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following a trial at Winchester Crown Court in March 2019.

Broughton, who was 30 at the time of the trial, was also found guilty of supplying Fletcher-Michie with 2CP at the festival, which takes place at Lulworth Castle in Dorset.

Prosecutor William Mousley said the rapper – known as CeonRPG – had failed to take “reasonable” steps to seek medical help for Fletcher-Michie.

He said Broughton did not get help because he had been handed a suspended jail term a month earlier and feared the consequences.

Stephen Kamlish from the defence team said an expert witness had acknowledged Fletcher-Michie might not have survived even with medical help.

He said Broughton, from Enfield in north London, had felt unable to leave his girlfriend alone in the woods while she was suffering a “bad trip” and he had not realised she was at risk of death, and had sought help through text and sending a GPS position.

The defence lawyer read a statement to the court from Broughton during the sentencing hearing which read: “Sorry I didn’t do more to save Louella, sorry for the suffering I caused to everyone who loved Louella, I want to make things right.”

Trial judge Mr Justice Goose had told Broughton: “You were only concerned for yourself. You didn’t want to be arrested, you were more in fear of that than in getting help.”

Broughton had previously admitted supplying drugs to Fletcher-Michie at the Glastonbury festival in June 2017 and was in breach of a suspended prison sentence for possessing a lock knife and a Stanley knife blade.

Additional reporting by Press Association