CovCounts

Coventry Counts Dead Women Vigil. We will honour her. non partisan.

[CovCounts @CovCounts]

Over 2 women, on average, are killed by men every week in the UK [*], typically by men they loved and trusted; husbands, partners, sons, friends. Their deaths largely go unremarked. 1.

[Carrie Johnson @carrielbjohnson]

Excellent news just in. John Worboys was up for parole this week but we have just been told that the Parole Board member did not direct release or recommend a move to open conditions.

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

This man, Ryan Wellings, whose girlfriend Kiena Dawes killed herself after years of domestic abuse, has had seven months added to his prison sentence for contempt of court.
https://t.co/5EH47oPUsc

Wellings, who was jailed for six and a half years in January 2025 after he was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of assaulting Kiena before her death and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour over a period of two years, admitted defying the judge's instructions not to discuss his trial while he was giving evidence. He discussed the case in eight telephone calls from prison with his then partner, Lisa Croft, and his mother Lisa Green.

“The Crown's case is that during the telephone calls the defendants engaged in witness coaching, and that their joint intention was to influence and thereby improve both the content of the evidence given by Ryan Wellings and the manner in which he gave it.”

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

'The family of Harshita Brella, who was killed and dumped in a car boot, have travelled to the UK for the first time to demand justice for their daughter.'
https://t.co/O0PhogPw1x

'Four officers from Northamptonshire Police are facing misconduct hearings after the IOPC found they have a case to answer over the way they handled Harshita's domestic abuse claims. Two officers are due to face misconduct hearings next week, on the same day the family are set to meet officers for an update on the case.'

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

Along with a group of campaigners, Killed Women co-founder Carole Gould met with the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on Wednesday to discuss extending the current statutory requirement for RSE lessons (which ends at age 16) to 18.
https://t.co/1JzwnLl1eT
Carole believes extra Relationships and Sex Education lessons in schools could have saved her daughter Ellie's life.
Faustine Petron launched the Make It Mandatory campaign after entering into an abusive four-year relationship at the age of 16. "Because of my age and the lack of education around it, I struggled to spot the signs of control and sometimes I mistook them as care, affection or attention," she said. "Had I stayed in that relationship any longer, I might not be here speaking to you today."
Phillipson reaffirmed her "personal commitment" to the change, though no specific timeframes were given for reform.

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

'Walking hand-in-hand with his new wife, Christopher Trybus arrived on 23 February to begin hearing a litany of evidence against him – nearly nine years after the death of his first wife.'
https://t.co/tCrjYgmseu

'Tarryn Baird killed herself at the Swindon home that she shared with Trybus on 28 November 2017... Tarryn had left a catalogue of diary entries alleging domestic abuse as well as an audio recording, apparently revealing a violent sexual assault... Two investigations by two separate police forces eventually led to Trybus being charged with manslaughter, coercive control and rape, setting the stage for the significant trial.'

'Tarryn Baird had around 100 blunt-force trauma injuries across her body, with a forensic physician likening injuries to her abdomen and neck to those seen in car crashes or fatal strangulation. “I’ve worked in this field since 1989, I have rarely – if ever – seen abdominal injuries as seen with Tarryn Baird,” Professor Margaret Stark told jurors, refuting defence suggestions that they could have been self-inflicted.'

'Tarryn's GP told the court of her patient’s “horrific injuries”, repeated disclosures of alleged abuse – including assaults with a metal pole – and how she deemed her a high suicide risk.'

'When Wiltshire Police became aware of domestic abuse allegations following a visit to A&E by Baird, she is said to have expressed fear of “the consequences” if her husband found out. She later told one police safeguarding officer that she believed Trybus was a “psychopath” who would find her even if she tried to flee to a refuge.'

'Trybus's lawyer claimed the entire prosecution case was built on an “agenda” of tackling violence against women and girls. She called Tarryn a “ghost from 10 years ago”, and suggested she was “addicted to the attention” her allegations brought. She warned male jurors they should feel “very afraid”.

After more than 40 hours of deliberations, Trybus was found not guilty of manslaughter, two counts rape and coercive control. He said in a statement: “I would also like to acknowledge that domestic abuse is a very real and serious issue, and victims must always be supported”.

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

Tarryn Baird’s mother Michelle gave evidence in the trial of Christopher Trybus, who was cleared by a jury of subjecting Tarryn to a “tsunami” of domestic abuse and sexual violence before she took her own life, aged 34.
https://t.co/CLHbN3zrXy
She accused the defence of attempting to “assassinate her daughter’s character and victim-blame,” adding: “She was compassionate, wore her heart on her sleeve and would do anything for anybody – I cannot believe how I’m still sitting here today after losing my precious child.”
'Tarryn had 177 contacts with Swindon Women’s Aid between September 2015 and her death and was subject to three multi-agency risk assessment reviews, a domestic homicide review, seen by Channel 4 News, reveals. The review also found a failure by police to take timely action in relation to domestic abuse reports and a “general lack of understanding” on the link between domestic abuse and suicide... The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining the response of Wiltshire Police to Tarryn Baird’s case.'
'James Foster, a specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said he respected the jury’s not guilty verdict, but added: “We are not deterred, however, from continuing our efforts to prosecute defendants for manslaughter where victims of domestic abuse see no way out but to take their life”.
Michelle, who now supports other families fighting for answers, said the “world was watching” her daughter’s case, adding: “What I am doing is for Tarryn, for Tarryn’s legacy and I will continue to do it until I can’t anymore.”'

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

"Fallen Women" Campaign:
Following Killed Women's Fallen Women campaign, which launched in March 2024 and calls for the deaths of all women who have fallen from a height to be reviewed by police to identify whether domestic abuse may have been a feature, the NCVPP's annual 'Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides Report' now contains coding and recording of deaths specifically involving a fall from height.

This year's newly published report, covering 2020–2025, states: "In Year 5 (April 2024 – March 2025) there were 18 reported cases of deaths involving a fall from height, compared to 21 victims (associated with 22 suspects) reported in updated figures covering the previous four-year period (April 2020 to March 2024, excluding one case of child death). Therefore, across all five years there were 39 victims reported to have died following a fall from height, accounting for approximately 3% of deaths overall (1452)". 💔

The report states: "The analytical focus on this method of death and requests to forces to submit these cases are likely to have improved understanding and awareness of such cases involving a history of domestic abuse."

The full Year 5 report can be read and downloaded here: https://t.co/RRRQThZXvb

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

'My sister was killed by her partner – I want to give her a voice'
https://t.co/1GKiBNFzyP
'Karina remembers all too well the moment she discovered her sister, Simone Smith, had been killed. But Karina's grief has been compounded by unanswered questions about what happened to Simone. She and her family are determined Simone will not be forgotten and want to give her "a voice".'

'Last month an inquest into Parker's death heard he had been due to appear in court on 25 February 2025. The reason was not given, but coroner Elizabeth Gray said it could have "put him on the sex offenders register". On 26 February, police forced entry to the couple's flat and found Simone dead. Parker was found dead the following day in a toilet cubicle at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.'

'The coroner said it was not for the court to "determine why he took the actions he did". The case of Simone's killing has been closed and there will be no court hearing to confirm what happened.'

'Karina has been supported by Peterborough Women's Aid since Simone's death. The charity's chief executive, Mandy Geraghty, says: "It's really very sad that, a year on, they don't have everything tied up in terms of getting closure. There's lots of things outstanding from the authorities that would lead the family to know more information about what happened, and I think it's really sad that they can't do that."'

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

Victims and bereaved families will be given six months to challenge “unduly lenient” sentences handed to criminals, under changes announced by David Lammy.
https://t.co/egVGijrKbT
Relatives of murder victims campaigned for the government to scrap the 28-day time limit to submit a formal request after an offender is sentenced.
Following concerns that victims and their families were not aware of the scheme, the government will also introduce a legal duty in the Victims’ Code to notify survivors of the existence of the scheme.

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

Despite @centreWJ’s grave concerns about the impact on rape victims of crown court backlog - we have joined other VAWG groups in opposing cutting jury trials because of the risks of ‘undermining justice’ for abused women and girls, as set out below https://t.co/7YdcutS2WT

[CountingDeadWomen @CountDeadWomen]

10 March 2026: Karlie Sone (also known as Karlie Day), 28, was found dead at an address in Ipswich, Suffolk. Paul Stephenson, 39, has been charged with her murder.

[CountingDeadWomen @CountDeadWomen]

CONVICTED: Zahwa Salah Mukhtar, 27, died after being assaulted and thrown from a car in Romford, East London, ON 16 August 2025 by Duane Owusu, 36. They had only met a few hours earlier. He has been convicted of her murder.

[CountingDeadWomen @CountDeadWomen]

7 March 2026: Ellie Flanagan, 23, was found dead at an address in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Martin McCarney, 45, said to be her step-father, has been charged with her murder.

[David Challen @David_Challen]

Pleased to see govt plans to invest almost £32m for women’s services to tackle the root causes of reoffending, incl funding women's centres.

WC's have a proven track record of delivering results, providing a holistic specialist approach to tackling how and why women offend.

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

International Women’s Day 2026: Families Demand Action on Violence Against Women And Girls – “We Were Here. Where Were You?”

In honour of International Women’s Day, the Killed Women network stood with bereaved families on 12th March as Parliament heard the names of women whose lives have been lost. We express our sincere thanks to Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, for reading the names of women who have lost their lives over the past year and for continuing this powerful annual tradition. Killed Women also thank the vital work of Counting Dead Women, who provide the list of names read out each year.

But we say that remembrance must also lead to action.

Killed Women call for urgent reform across CPS, policing, domestic homicide reviews and justice in sentencing in order to address the continuing national crisis of violence against women and girls, and to ensure that warning signs are acted upon before more lives are lost.

Layla Coe, CEO of Killed Women: “We thank Jess Phillips for continuing the tradition of reading the names each year. This International Women’s Day we stand with families who say: ‘We Were Here. Where Were You?’ We urge those in power to implement the recommendations in our research report Invisible Women Made Visible (https://t.co/h9TzEtBEWH) and deliver the systemic change needed to end violence against women and girls. Recognition and remembrance must now lead to reform and accountability.”

KW's full statement can be read here: https://t.co/7leNDuk8jq

[Harriet Wistrich @HWistrich]

Welcome extension of important initiatives to enhance rights of rape victim-survivors in the criminal justice process
https://t.co/FdIVSshlb1

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

PETITION: 'Introduce “Julie’s Law” to protect victims from harmful disclosure of offender photographs'
Introducing National Standards for Offender Identification Photographs
https://t.co/ydqCoYFWvx

Petition starter, Emma King: "This petition calls for the introduction of Julie’s Law, creating clear national guidance on how offender photographs are taken, stored and potentially disclosed within the criminal justice system.

The Victim Contact Scheme exists to keep victims informed about an offender’s sentence, parole and potential release. However, current national guidance focuses on sharing information and does not clearly regulate how offender photographs are taken, stored, or if and how they may ever be shown to victims or their families.

In my own case, a photograph of the man who murdered my sister was delivered to my home as part of the process intended to help me recognise him upon release. The image showed him laughing inappropriately.

At the time, I accepted the photograph because it was presented as part of the safety process while he was already approved by parole for release, they were already searching for his accommodation and could be released at any point. I was not informed that alternative images could be requested, nor was there any clear guidance explaining what the photograph might contain or what options were available. In that moment, without national standards or clear procedures, it did not feel like a fully informed choice. The two police officers were already in my living room.

What was intended as protection instead became deeply distressing and left me carrying an image no family should ever have to hold.

This highlights a wider policy gap where images intended for identification within police or prison systems may be shared without consistent national standards or trauma-informed safeguards.

Julie’s Law calls for clear national guidance so that offender photographs used within the criminal justice system follow a neutral identification format similar to passport or driving licence photographs and that strict rules exist on whether such images should ever be disclosed to victims or next of kin.

Victims should never be unexpectedly exposed to distressing images through a system meant to protect them.

Why Julie’s Law matters
Julie’s Law would ensure victims are protected from avoidable harm caused by gaps in guidance, and that the justice system treats victims with clarity, dignity and care.
By introducing national standards, Julie’s Law would also strengthen public confidence in how offender identification images are managed across prisons, policing and justice agencies.
Sign and share so victims gain a better picture of justice."

[Killed Women @KilledWomennw]

"She counts": ‘We want to give them their names back’: the team identifying Europe’s forgotten female murder victims. Interpol’s DNA unit is helping bring closure to families of murder victims, whose names may be unknown for decades.
https://t.co/ypc7ydDNkW

For Susan Hitchin of the forensics team at Interpol’s headquarters in the French city of Lyon, it is the fear of victims being forgotten and left unknown in death that drives her.

“Sadly, this [the killing of women by men] is not going away, but what we can do is send out a message to society that we do care, that all lives are valuable and we will do what we can to acknowledge these women, even if they have become marginalised and fallen through the cracks in society.

“We want to at least be able to give them their names back,” she adds. “We want to give them back that dignity, even in death.”

[CountingDeadWomen @CountDeadWomen]

26 June 2025: Nila Patel, 56, died from her injuries two days after being attacked in public, in Leicester. The man, said to be a stranger, Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, 23, stamped on her head. He has been charged with murder.

[CountingDeadWomen @CountDeadWomen]

CONVICTED: On 20 July 2025: Stephanie Blundell, 41, was killed by her boyfriend at his home in Chester, Cheshire. Tony Devenport, 57, subjected Stephanie to a violent attack where she suffered 102 injuries. He has been convicted of her murder.