TRAGIC Caroline Flack killed herself the day after discovering her assault case was to go ahead.
She was told on Friday the CPS were continuing with the trial – even though she and her ex Lewis Burton urged authorities to discontinue it.
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The decision came as a hammer blow to the Love Island host as she fought to clear her name.
Ex-Strictly winner Caroline, 40, died alone at her new flat in East London, where her body was discovered yesterday morning.
Lewis, 27, who she was accused of attacking in an early-morning row, was last night rushing back to the UK from a skiing holiday.
On Friday he had posted a picture of the couple, saying: “Happy Valentine’s. Love You.”
Former Strictly winner Caroline’s last Instagram post came the day before – and showed her with freshly-dyed blonde hair giving her pet dog Ruby a kiss.
Caroline’s family – parents Christine and Ian, brother Paul and sisters Elizabeth and Jody — last night confirmed her death.
They said: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.”
Christine had hugged and kissed her daughter when she appeared before magistrates on December 23.
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Caroline was said to have been determined to prove her innocence when the case eventually went to crown court, scheduled for March 4. But she was also tormented by strict bail conditions which prevented her from contacting him until after the trial.
Last night a source close to her said: “This is the most dreadful and shocking news – and has come as a bolt from the blue for everyone.
“Caroline has been very low but absolutely no one saw this coming or had any inkling she felt this way. Otherwise she would never have been left alone.
“The timing of this is just dreadful and suggests that being apart from Lewis on Valentine’s Day may have proved the final straw for Caroline.
“Caroline was determined to prove her innocence and seemed to be looking forward to being able to do that in court.
“She insisted she was innocent, she was determined to prove she was innocent – and Lewis never supported her prosecution.”
Her shock death sparked a torrent of tweets from stunned pals and celebrities — and throws the future of Love Island into doubt.
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TV host Phillip Schofield posted: “You poor poor darling girl my heart is breaking.” Fellow presenter Eamonn Holmes said: “Shocked beyond belief. May she have found peace. Repercussions for Love Island now surely?”
The dating show had previously come under fire after the suicides of former contestants Mike Thalassitis, 26, last March and Sophie Gradon, 32, in 2018.
Caroline was forced to stand down as host for the show’s first winter series following her arrest at her home on December 12.
The programme – due to be screened on ITV2 tonight – is now likely to be taken off air.
An ITV spokeswoman said: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news. Caroline was a much-loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”
Police and paramedics rushed to Caroline’s flat yesterday, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her death is being treated as non-suspicious, with a post-mortem scheduled and an inquest set to open this week.
It comes less than three weeks before she was due to face trial on charges of assault by beating. Sources have previously told The Sun on Sunday that Caroline hoped the case would not go ahead – because Lewis had stood by her and did not want to press charges.
She had been accused at a court hearing on December 23 of hitting him over the head with a lamp at 5am as he slept.
The court also heard that she said “she will kill herself” while under caution.
Lewis later wrote on Instagram: “It’s heartbreaking I can’t see my girlfriend over Christmas. What I witnessed today was horrible. She did not hit me with a lamp. Arguments do happen every day in every relationship. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.”
Caroline also thanked fans for their “continued support and love”, saying on Instagram: “It’s going to be a relief when I am able to give my side of the story.”
She initially flew to LA but returned to the UK last month after quitting booze.
She was also given assurances about her future in TV, and sources said she was “looking to the future” with optimism.
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YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
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In 2011, Caroline presented The Xtra Factor with Olly Murs and later Matt Richardson before later hosting the main show in 2015 to replace Dermot O’Leary.
After he returned to the show, Caroline took on her biggest role as presenter of Love Island the same year.
Along with as hosting Love Island’s weekly spin-off show Aftersun, she hosted all five series of the popular programme – one of the most-watched reality shows in the UK since it launched in 2015.
As well as presenting on TV, Caroline was also crowned winner of the 12th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 with Pasha Kovalev as her partner.
She earned the first perfect score of the series for her salsa dance in the semi-finals – followed by three further perfect scores for the first time in the show’s history.
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In March last year, she took part in an episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy, actor Greg Wise and boxer Nicola Adams.
Love Island stars tonight led tributes to Caroline after her tragic death was announced.
Amber Davies, who won the show in 2017, tweeted: “My heart is actually broken”.
While Wes Nelson wrote: “I can’t believe what I’m reading! Caroline Flack was an absolute diamond, my hearts genuinely broken! One of the warmest funniest people I’ve ever met, I have nothing but great memories! It was just weeks since we were chatting away!”.
This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield also paid tribute to Caroline with a post on his Instagram stories.
He added text above a message that Caroline had posted on social media, which read: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”.
Schofield wrote: “You poor darling girl my heart is breaking #BeKind”.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123
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