Maria Louise Hopes jailed for life for husband’s murder – BBC News

‘A woman from Rhondda Cynon Taff who murdered her husband in a “sustained, nasty and brutal” attack with her son has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 3rd October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Archer v Titchener: what would a family court decide? – Family Law Week

Posted September 30th, 2016 in change of name, children, custody, domestic violence, news, parental responsibility by tracey

‘Jennifer Kotilaine, Pauline Troy, Emma Romer and Eilidh Gardner, all barristers at 42 Bedford Row, consider the family law implications for the Archer family following Helen’s much-publicised acquittal in the criminal court.’

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Family law Week, 21st September 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Man who killed his unborn baby during attack loses appeal against life sentence – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2016 in appeals, domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, homicide, news, pregnancy, sentencing by sally

‘A man who attacked his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend, killing their unborn baby, has lost his appeal against a life sentence.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS to review Poppi Worthington death – The Guardian

Posted September 26th, 2016 in domestic violence, homicide, inquests, news, prosecutions, sexual offences by sally

‘Prosecutors are re-examining the case of a toddler from Cumbria who died after being sexually assaulted.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police train to spot coercive or controlling behaviour – BBC News

‘Front-line police officers dealing with domestic abuse incidents are being trained to spot the signs of coercive or controlling behaviour. Research for the College of Policing suggested that officers were focusing on cases involving violence and overlooking other risk factors. Three unnamed police forces in England and Wales are taking part in a pilot scheme following the study.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of women convicted of domestic violence at record high – The Independent

Posted September 20th, 2016 in domestic violence, gender, news, reports, statistics, women by tracey

‘The data did not specify if the women’s victims were male or female, however campaigners say the statistics serve as a reminder that while the overwhelming majority of abusers are male, women can also commit serious abuse.’

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The Independent, 19th September 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs call for end to abusive men using courts against families – The Guardian

‘The government must carry out a full review of family courts to stop them being used by violent men to perpetuate abuse against their partners and children, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man, 24, is one of the first people jailed for coercive control offences using victimless prosecution – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 12th, 2016 in domestic violence, news, prosecutions, sentencing by sally

‘A 24-year-old who assaulted his girlfriend and stopped her wearing makeup is believed to be the first person to be jailed for coercive control offences using victimless prosecution.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Solicitors slam The Archers for creating ‘unrealistic’ expections of British legal system – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 12th, 2016 in barristers, BBC, domestic violence, legal profession, media, news, solicitors, trials by sally

‘Leading solicitors have complained they are being sidelined by The Archers’ trial plot which has given those accused of crimes unrealistic expectations from barristers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Archers trial: verdicts from the lawyer, the counsellor and the prison expert – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2016 in attempted murder, attempts, BBC, domestic violence, media, murder, news by sally

‘The dramatic trial of Helen Titchener for the attempted murder of her husband is finally under way. How is her barrister performing; is Helen’s predicament true to life; and what will prison be like, if she is convicted?’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Seven charts which show how the UK is failing domestic violence victims – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2016 in benefits, domestic violence, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Research by Women’s Aid has revealed that two-thirds of domestic violence shelters face closure under Government welfare cuts.’

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The Independent, 5th September 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two-thirds of domestic violence shelters facing closure due to welfare cuts, research suggests – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2016 in benefits, domestic violence, news by sally

‘Two-thirds of domestic violence shelters in England and Wales are facing closure due to welfare reforms, research has found.’

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The Independent, 5th September 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic violence concerns raised as new law against psychological abuse fails to come into effect – The Independent

Posted September 1st, 2016 in domestic violence, mental health, news, psychiatric damage by sally

‘Police forces in England and Wales are failing to take action on a new law against psychological abuse, it has been revealed, prompting concerns that domestic violence is not being targeted effectively.’

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The Independent, 31st August 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Successful compensation appeal by rape victim – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled that, in deciding whether or not an applicant has cooperated with the prosecution of her assailant where she made and later retracted an allegation of rape, it was necessary to see why that retraction was made and whether it was done truly voluntarily, rather than simply assessing whether she was responsible for the retraction.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd August 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

CA orders release of court judgment on Ellie Butler’s death – UK Human Rights Blog

‘C (a child) [2016] EWCA Civ 798. This is the most recent in the long series of legal steps touching on the violent career of Ben Butler, recently convicted of the murder of his daughter, Ellie.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th August 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Domestic abuse privacy breach: Greater Manchester Police pays victim – BBC News

Posted August 11th, 2016 in compensation, domestic violence, news, police, privacy, victims by tracey

‘A domestic abuse victim has received £75,000 from a police force after it revealed details of her treatment by a former boyfriend without her consent.’

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BBC News, 11th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court rules in favour of rape victim who retracted accusation under duress – The Guardian

‘A domestic violence victim who was jailed for retracting an allegation of rape, which was actually true, will have her compensation increased after an appeal judge ruled she had been unfairly punished for failing to fully cooperate with police.’

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The Guardian, 1st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Occupation Orders: Are we there yet? – Family Law Week

Posted July 12th, 2016 in domestic violence, domicile, housing, news by sally

‘Kevin Gordon, Pupil Barrister, Coram Chambers explores the courts’ developing approach to the application and granting of occupation orders under section33 (6) and (7) of the Family Law Act 1996 as an updated summary guide to practitioners.’

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Family Law Week, 7th July 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Half of police officers facing gross misconduct charges quit force before case heard – The Guardian

‘Half of police officers facing gross misconduct investigations in the past two years resigned or retired before their cases were heard, figures show.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Domestic violence consultation deadline looms – Legal Voice

Posted June 29th, 2016 in consultations, domestic violence, evidence, legal aid, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice is undertaking national research as to the fitness for purpose of the legal aid domestic violence (DV) evidence requirements. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) research follows the earlier successful challenge by Rights of Women (R (Rights of Women) v Secretary of State for Justice [2016] EWCA CIV91).’

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Legal Voice, 29th June 2016

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk