Hornchurch police officer referred to murdered sisters as “dead birds”

Bibaa Henry (left) and Nicole Smallman were stabbed to death in a park in June 2020

A former police officer from Hornchurch has been found guilty of gross misconduct after taking photos of two dead sisters in north London.

PC Deniz Jaffer, 47, was ordered to protect the crime scene in Wembley where Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, were found dead last June.

A tribunal has heard he described them as “two dead birds” in a WhatsApp group while taking pictures of their bodies. 

He was told he would have been dismissed without notice if he was still a serving officer while his colleague PC Jamie Lewis, 33, of Colchester, was dismissed. 

Lewis reportedly wrote “unfortunately I’m sat next to two dead birds with stab wounds” while Jaffer said  “I’m here now I’ll try to take pictures of the dead birds”.

Jaffer took four pictures while Lewis took two and one of them had Lewis’ face superimposed on it. 

In an unconnected matter, Jaffer was also found to have used a racially derogatory term in a message to the public about a policing activity.

The misconduct hearing was brought forward after both men entered guilty pleas at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 2 November. 

It was chaired by Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball who said: “The behaviour of PCs Lewis and Jaffer that day was shameful and fell very far below the standards we expect of all our officers. We do not want officers who act in such an unprofessional and disrespectful manner to be part of the Metropolitan Police Service.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman and we deeply regret the additional distress this matter has caused them. I am profoundly sorry, both personally and on behalf of the Met.

“The behaviour of PCs Lewis and Jaffer initially came to light because someone had concerns and anonymously reported them. I thank them for doing the right thing; we encourage all our officers and staff, and indeed members of the public, to report wrong-doing and we will act on those reports.”

Jaffer and Lewis could face jail time when they are sentenced for misconduct in a public office in court next month. 

Danyal Hussein, 19, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years for murdering Ms Henry and Ms Smallman in October. 

He stabbed both victims while they were celebrating Ms Henry’s birthday in Fryent Country Park.

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