The most recent published Domestic Homicide Review I have undertaken remembers Elizabeth, an 83 year old woman from Anglesey in Wales.
With huge thanks to the panel in Gwynedd and Anglesey, I learnt so much about the area. Wales is a unique country with a unique culture and responses to DA need to differ, particularly in rural areas like Anglesey. I lieu of family involvement in this case, I met with community members and was able to paint a picture of what life might be like for a woman like Elizabeth on the Island.
I have completed a number of DHRs now involving older women as victims of murder from their adult sons, these women are largely invisible, they disappear from reach and are incredibly vulnerable and isolated. Age discrimination is a real factor in how we design our services and I would love for us to spend more time and resources on reaching older women. Health based DA services are a great response but they aren't enough, older women are seen as confused, before they are seen as victims of DA - and we need a complete overhaul of how we respond to older women, including in the specialist DA sector.
Nonetheless undertaking DHRs is a privilege and I hope I have honoured Elizabeth in the process. May she rest in peace.
"In June 2022, police received a call in the early hours of the morning from Elizabeth’s son in law, Josh, stating that his mother-in-law had fallen. George had been resting on his bed because he was feeling unwell, and he heard a scream. When he went to check, he found Elizabeth on the floor of the living room in significant pain. George called his daughter Mandy for help and she sent her husband, Josh, to the address. David was at the property and being abusive. As David would not calm down, George asked Josh to call the police. By the time the police arrived, Elizabeth had been on the floor for approximately three hours. Whilst the police were on the phone to Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST), Elizabeth disclosed to an officer that she had been pushed by David. David had already been arrested for a breach of the peace at the scene and he was further arrested for assault of Elizabeth after her disclosure. Elizabeth died in hospital two days later and David was subsequently arrested for the murder of his mother. After a full investigation by NWP, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed the evidence and concluded a decision of no further action to be taken against David."
(Full report below or Exec Summary here - https://lnkd.in/eK22z4m4)
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