In Britain today young women like me take basic rights for granted. But for millions of girls around the world just being female can put their lives at risk. Stacey Dooley Investigates: World’s Worst Place to be a Woman, BBC 2015
Honduras – the country with the world’s highest murder rate for women. ibid.
Almost two-thirds of the [Honduran] population live in poverty. ibid.
‘If she had behaved better she wouldn’t have provoked me to do this [slash her throat].’ ibid. Homer
Fewer than 3% of domestic violence cases are resolved here. ibid.
Both abortion and the morning-after pill have been made illegal. ibid.
Rape happens more frequently than murder here and the majority of victims are under fourteen. ibid.
In Russia there is a saying: ‘If he beats you, it means he loves you’. In February 2017 certain forms of domestic abuse were decriminalised in Russia. Stacey Dooley Investigates: Russia’s War on Women, BBC 2018
Behind closed doors, Russian society has a dark secret. Domestic violence is a staggering problem here in Russia. ibid.
‘In Russia it’s sort of traditional for a man to beat his woman.’ ibid. victim
There’s nothing like a restraining order in Russian law. ibid.
The lifeless body of a young mother lay for two months in this field on the outskirts of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In January of 2017 detectives found Kelly Stanfield partially frozen with four gunshot wounds to the head and neck. She was just 36 years old. At his sentencing a year later Kevin Stanfield tried to show remorse for murdering his wife. But their home had been a warzone: beatings witnessed by their three young children. Inside Evil s1e5: Till Death Us Do Part, Sky Witness 2018
Kelly is one of three women murdered every day in this nation by their husbands, boyfriends or exes. ibid.
‘When it comes to domestic violence it is rare for them to stop.’ ibid. Barbara Niess-May, Safehouse
Every year in the UK two million people suffer domestic abuse, the majority at the hands of men. But can more be done to stop it? Panorama: Can Violent Men Change, BBC 2018
Domestic violence accounts for a third of all violent crimes in England and Wales. But is there a way to change those who abuse their partners? ibid.
The reviewing lawyer must decide whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute and whether it isn’t in the public interest. The Prosecutors s1e2: The Proof, BBC 2016
Russia can be a dangerous place for women. It has a deadly culture of domestic violence. Across the country hundreds of women are killed every year by partners and relatives. But now some Russian women are fighting back with a new wave of activism. Our World: Russian Domestic Violence, BBC 2019
In 2011 Sally Challen was convicted of murdering her husband Richard. For six years her lawyer has been working to quash her conviction. The Case of Sally Challen, caption, BBC 2019
Such a bizarre act out of the blue. ibid. law dude
Fewer than 10% of those who try to appeal against conviction are successful. ibid. caption
Sally’s defence team claimed she was not guilty of murder, arguing for the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of ‘diminished’ responsibility’. ibid.
There was the issue of the hammer; there was a lot of discussion as to whether Mrs Challen brought the hammer in the house. The offence took place in the kitchen. ibid. legal dude
The jury’s verdict that it was murder was unanimous. ibid. caption
Sally’s legal team have asked Professor Evan Stark, an expert on coercive control, to assist with the case. ibid. caption
Harriet will not be arguing coercive control on its own. She has brought in forensic psychiatrist Gwen Adshead to assess Sally’s mental state. ibid.
27 February 2019 Appeal: Sally’s case is the first time the offence of coercive control will be used as a partial defence to murder: ‘We shall quash that conviction.’ ibid.
After serving eight years and ten months, Sally Challen was released from prison. ibid.
10th June 2017: a 21-year-old man is rushed to the A&E unit at Bedford Hospital. His name: Alex Skeel. Alex tells police the person who has attacked him is his 22-year-old girlfriend Jordan Worth. Faking It: Tears of a Crime s5e4: The Prime Suspect, DiscoveryPlus 2021
Jordan Worth pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and was the first woman in the UK to be guilty of the new offence of coercive control. She was jailed for seven and a half years. ibid.
’60s: The Saint: ‘Where domestic abuse is … all a bit of fun.’ Most Shocking Sexist TV of All Time: Ooh, You Are Awful: TV We Used to Love, Channel 5 2018, TV critic
If the appeal is successful, she could walk free. Bad Love: Why Did Fri Kill Kyle? caption, BBC 2022
Babe, I don’t want to lose you. I need you. ibid. Fri’s 999 call aside
A mother of two from Liverpool who stabbed her partner to death during a drunken row has been jailed for life. ibid. radio news
Fri and Kyle’s families live in the same neighbourhood in Toxteth. ibid.
I was violent one time. He kicked me in the belly. ibid. Fri
A campaign group, Justice for Women, is helping Fri with her appeal. They believe Kyle’s abuse may have impacted Fri’s actions the night she killed him. ibid.
Conviction reduced to manslaughter … Fri walks free. ibid. radio news & caption
In West Yorkshire more than 77,600 domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents were recorded in 2020/21. Bradford on Duty IV: On the Edge, caption
Domestic violence was treated as a private affair rather than a legal matter. The Ruth Ellis Files: A Very British Crime Story I, BBC 2018
She had a whole world we knew nothing about. The Kidnap of Angel Lynn, mother, Channel 4 2023
We knew she was going out with him [Chay] … He weren’t a good boy. ibid. father
He used to steal cars. And he finally got caught. ibid. mother
She did love him. So it was a bit easier for him to control her. ibid.
We should have thought then, I wonder if he’s hitting her. ibid. father
17th September 2020: Chay bundled her into the back of the van, and his mate Rocco was driving. ibid.
She fell from the vehicle at 60 miles per hour. She suffered catastrophic brain injury. ibid. ITV news
Once I was in that dynamic, I suppose all hell broke loose … What I experienced was domestic abuse. Dispatches: Trapped, Disabled & Abused, victim, Channel 4 2023
One in seven disabled people experience domestic abuse compared to one in twenty non-disabled people. ibid.
A recent study by Women’s Aid found just 1% of refuges are wheelchair accessible. ibid.
Women suffering extreme violence at home. Whose side is the law on? The campaign to keep killers locked up for longer. And nowhere else to turn for women who fear for their lives. Tonight: Murdered at Home, ITV 2024
Every week two women are killed by their current or former partner. ibid.
Taylorsville, Kentucky, 16th April 2017: There’s been an accident. I [Kandy Bennett] have shot my husband [Mark Bennett]. He threatened to kill me … Accused: Guilty or Innocent? s3e4, 911 call, Channel 5/ITVX 2022
I couldn’t take it any more … The man was trying to kill me. ibid. Kandy
There had been domestic violence in Kandy’ and Mark’s relationship for years … I don’t know of another case that’s this strong on self-defence. ibid. defense brief
Kandy was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. ibid.
As soon as we were married his demeanour started to change almost overnight. ibid. Kandy
He would slam my head into concrete … hit me with golf clubs … ibid.
She turned off the cameras in the house. It looks suspicious … This could be hugely damaging to the case. ibid. defense brief
Kandy’s daughter was also a victim of Mark’s abuse. ibid. caption
Alongside years of physical and mental abuse, Mark persuaded Kandy to take drugs. ibid. caption
Multiple threats … The police were not helpful at all. ibid. Professor
She tried to reach out to the police and the police were not helpful at all. ibid.
Control: More so than I’ve heard in any other case. ibid.