Jealous father guilty of murdering wife and daughter in Salisbury – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, families, murder, news by sally

‘A supermarket worker has been found guilty of murdering his wife and teenage daughter after he slit their throats in a jealous rage because he was losing his “controlling” grip on the family.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police accused of not taking honour-based abuse seriously as figures reveal 64% fall in recorded offences – The Independent

‘Police have been accused of not taking honour-based abuse seriously as new figures reveal a 64 per cent fall in the number of offences recorded.’

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The Independent, 17th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Shock new figures fuel fears of more lockdown domestic abuse killings in UK – The Guardian

‘Calls to the UK’s largest domestic abuse helpline are rising “week on week” as new figures reveal that almost 50 suspected killings may have occurred during the first lockdown.’

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The Guardian, 15th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fact finding hearings: a case study F v. G [2020] EWHC 2396 – Becket Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in children, coercive & controlling behaviour, news, practice directions by sally

‘The provisions of Practice Direction 12 J make it very clear that the court should determine as soon as possible whether it is necessary to conduct a fact finding hearing in relation to any disputed allegations of domestic abuse.’

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Becket Chambers, 5th November 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

All you need to know about domestic abuse and ILR – EIN Blog

‘Anyone in an abusive relationship is in a dangerous and terrifying situation. But if you are in the UK on a Spouse Visa, Civil Partnership Visa, or Unmarried Partner Visa, the situation is especially frightening. But you are not alone. And you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which will allow you to stay permanently in the UK if your relationship breaks down because of domestic violence/abuse.’

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EIN Blog, 9th November 2020

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Man who controlled ex-partner’s digital existence jailed – BBC News

‘A man who used his ex-partner’s social media accounts to send explicit clips of her to her boss and family has been jailed for three years and four months.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claire Parry death: PC Timothy Brehmer cleared of murder – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, guilty pleas, homicide, murder, news by sally

‘A police officer who strangled his long-term lover after she exposed their affair to his wife has been cleared of murder.’

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BBC News, 27th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How smart devices are exploited for domestic abuse – BBC News

‘The number of domestic abuse cases has increased dramatically since the UK’s Covid lockdown – and tech has played a role.’

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BBC News, 18th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prosecution strategies in AR cases (2) – Counsel

‘A two-part series from Laura Hoyano and John Riley modelling investigation and prosecution strategies in cases of abusive relationship offending: part two of this worked case example looks at the issues arising at trial.’

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Counsel, September 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Prosecution strategies in AR cases (1) – Counsel

‘A two-part series from Laura Hoyano and John Riley modelling investigation and prosecution strategies in cases of abusive relationship offending. Part one of this worked case example shows the typical challenges, tactics to surmount them, and the need for innovative thinking.’

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Counsel, August 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Family courts carry out ‘state sanctioned abuse’ of domestic abuse survivors by letting perpetrators see children, commissioner warns – The Independent

‘Family courts are responsible for “state-sanctioned abuse” of domestic abuse victims as they allow violent parents to torment their ex-partners through the legal process, London’s victims commissioner has warned.’

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The Independent, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

After Sally Challen, we now have a chance to tackle coercive control – The Guardian

‘The domestic abuse bill offers a once-in-a-generation chance to change our approach says the son of the woman whose conviction for murdering her husband was quashed.’

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The Guardian, 7th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Relief from Forfeiture following Manslaughter: Challen v Challen [2020] EWHC 1330 (Ch) – Hardwicke Chambers

‘In this recent case, described by the presiding judge HHJ Matthews as “extraordinary [with] a fatal combination of conditions and events”, relief from forfeiture was granted despite the applicant having pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a resulting sentence of over nine years of imprisonment.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 29th May 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Coercive Control and the consequences of forfeiture – Challen v Challen [2020] EWHC 1330 – St John’s Chambers

‘Sally Challen’s case has become well known in recent years, as a miscarriage of justice that resulted in a woman spending years behind bars for an offence she did not commit. The facts were not in dispute. In August 2010 she had reconciled with Richard, her partner and husband of forty years, after previously leaving the matrimonial home and starting divorce proceedings. Over lunch, she beat him to death with a hammer. Subsequently dissuaded from committing suicide, she was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with the prosecution describing her as jealous and possessive, and the jury rejecting her defence of diminished responsibility. In 2019 the Court of Appeal allowed her appeal, quashed her conviction, and directed a re-trial to reconsider the defences of diminished responsibility and provocation, in the light of new expert evidence about the effect of coercive control in a relationship. Richard had behaved appallingly towards Slly during their relationship. Finally in September 2019 the Crown accepted the plea that Sally Challen had offered throughout, that of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Edis J sentenced her to 9 years and 4 months imprisonment, with the effect that she was immediately released.’

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St John's Chambers, 28th May 2020

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Sally Challen can inherit controlling husband’s estate, rules judge – The Guardian

‘A woman who won an appeal over her conviction for murdering her controlling husband can inherit his estate, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 27th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecuting Domestic Violence – New Law Journal

‘On Saturday 15 February, Caroline Flack’s tragic death became widespread news across the country. Having been charged with common assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, she pleaded not guilty on 23 December last year and was due to face trial on 4 March. On the same day that she took her life, a statement from Ms Flack’s management strongly criticised the Crown Prosecution Servce (CPS) for pursuing the case, citing its knowledge of her vulnerability and the lack of support from the alleged victim.’

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New Law Journal, 26th March 2020

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Domestic abuser jailed after landmark appeal by solicitor general – The Guardian

‘A violent domestic abuser has been imprisoned for three years after the solicitor general successfully challenged his previous sentence in a landmark case at the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic Abuse – Are Outdated Misconceptions Still Prevalent in the Legal System? – Becket Chambers

‘This article explores the issue of domestic abuse in the appeal of Re H v F [2020].’

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Becket Chambers, 17th February 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

A novel approach to Get refusal: the use of the offence of coercive control to obtain a religious divorce – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted February 12th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, divorce, human rights, Judaism, marriage, news, women by sally

‘For Jewish women, obtaining a religious divorce (Get) can be life-changing. Women denied a Get are considered ‘chained’ to their husband, preventing them from re-marrying within the faith (whilst not affecting the husband’s ability to re-marry). The power to grant the Get is usually considered the unilateral right of the husband. Because a purely religious marriage is not recognised in England as a civil marriage, women have little recourse to the courts. So, what happens when a husband refuses to grant a religious divorce to his wife? For these women, their human rights to manifest their religion and to enter into marriages are denied, such that they cannot live fully as both religious individuals and bearers of human rights. However, a novel approach to this problem, a private prosecution for coercive control, could offer Jewish women an alternative avenue to protect their human rights.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 4th February 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Jessica Breeze cleared of father’s murder after ‘years of violence’ – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, homicide, news by sally

‘A woman who stabbed her “controlling” father after suffering years of abuse has been found not guilty of his murder and manslaughter.’

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BBC News, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk