Domestic Abuse Awareness Month: Women killed by abusive ex-partners

A recent study, reported by the BBC reveals the extent of coercive and controlling behaviour in relationships where victims are killed by their current or ex-partners. What has become apparent is that organisations such as the police, the NHS and social services need to be able to better understand what coercive and controlling behaviour is and when to intervene in abusive relationships at the earliest moment.

Marion’s story:

The recent murder of Marion highlights just how hard it is to identify coercive and controlling behaviour in a relationship, both by the victim and those around them. Marion was described by her son, as being a “bubbly” person who become a “shell of a woman” during her abusive and controlling marriage. Marion’s son described her ex-husband had been “controlling” and would control what she would spend her money on and encouraged her to leave work, which led to Marion primarily being with her ex-husband all the time, and not able to leave. It was only after their relationship ended that Marion’s family came to realise how controlling her ex-husband had been.

In 2019, Marion was followed home by her ex-husband as he had been using a tracking device to know her whereabouts, he then shot her dead whilst she was in the car outside her home. Her husband was found guilty of her murder and is currently serving a life sentence.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence and abuse is defined as “Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional.”

The Government definition also outlines the following:

• Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
• Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive and controlling behaviour has been a criminal offence in the UK since 2015 and often occurs alongside other forms of domestic abuse. The new research carried out by the Manchester Metropolitan University looked at the link between coercive control and murder. The study analysed more than 300 domestic homicide reviews in England and Wales, between 2012 and 2018. In cases where victims had been killed by their current or ex-partner, it was found more than half had experienced coercive and controlling behaviour in the relationship. Unfortunately, it still remains the case that concerns over coercive and controlling behaviour are being under reported.

The Stats:

A YouGov poll of more than 3,300 men and women across the UK questioned whether they had personally experienced coercive controlling behaviours. This was defined in the survey as “an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten” someone. The results showed that a third of women aged 25 to 64 had experienced some form of coercive and controlling behaviour, with 23% of women aged 18-24 and 15% of all men surveyed saying the same. Sadly, almost half of the women surveyed said they had experienced psychological or emotional abuse.

Speak to our Family Law experts

If you have been affected by an abusive relationship and require advice on what you can do to protect yourself and your family, please contact our expert family team on 01895 207 882 or enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.