The Murder of Julia James

[saraclara]

Why is it getting no real publicity? Why aren't all the women who wanted to hold a vigil for Sarah Everard equally angered and wanting to do something about Julia James' murder? Where is Kate with her posy?

I got pretty much ripped apart back then when I questioned why specifically Sarah Everard's murder got the attention it did when others hadn't.

Both murders seem to have been of women minding their own business and attacked by strangers.

I still can't help feeling that the difference in media and the public's reaction is based on entirely superficial differences of age, attractiveness and...I don't know? What else?

Many people go missing. Many women are murdered. Obviously my heart breaks for what happened to Sarah Everard, but why are other murdered women not given that same attention? The anger then made people feel so strongly that they defied covid regulations to make their point. But I suspect barely anyone could come up with Julia James' name

[Nodal]

I agree. It's because she was middle aged. It made me feel very sad as I am only a few years youngerandi thought, would anyone give a fuck if I was killed by a man out on a run or walk? I just hope the police are taking it seriously and doing all they can to get justice for her.

[Blondiney]

You’d have to be blind not to notice the difference in tone and coverage between the two cases. An ordinary looking middle aged woman’s life is obviously worth less than a pretty young blonde’s.

As an ordinary looking, middle aged, dog walking woman I accept that I might be slightly biased.

[Gothichouse40]

I did wonder about that. I honestly don't have an answer. Im just really angry that this lady couldn't even take her dog for a walk, without this happening. Not that it makes a difference but can women not even go a walk during the day now? All I read about in my newspaper these days is violence and attacks against women. It is very worrying.

[Blondiney]

Perhaps people became more invested in the Everard case because it started out as a missing person?

[Oldraver]

The press always prefer a pretty young victim

The rest ca go to fuck as far as they are concerned

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

There’s an element of missing white woman syndrome with the Sarah Everard case which I think created the higher profile. Plus it happened in London which seems to automatically get a more attention (I don’t think deaths of young men in gang related incidents get the same national coverage when they are outside London for example either). But I agree it’s a really frightening case and the difference in response is notable. I don’t know how much her being a PCSO has been a factor when there was so much animosity towards the police in the Sarah Everard case. Like those who shouted loudest can’t bring themselves to speak in support of a member of that institution.

[saraclara]

@Blondiney

Perhaps people became more invested in the Everard case because it started out as a missing person?

People go missing every day. The fact that her going missing got so much publicity was, again, down to the same things that made her murder get the attention that this one hasn't.

[saraclara]

@Oldraver

The press always prefer a pretty young victim

The rest ca go to fuck as far as they are concerned

It's not just the press though is it? It's all those hundreds/thousands of women who were prepared to initiate or trek to a vigil for one, and shrug their shoulders about another.

[UhtredRagnarson]

I hadn’t heard of Julia James so thank you for bringing it to my attention OP.

I think Sarah Everards friend and family were a massive factor in getting and keeping Sarah’s name and photo out there.

[Hellocatshome]

Sarah Everard had a lot of very social media savvy friends and colleagues who knew what they were doing in regards to getting the news outlets and public whipped up. Its very like the poor local boy Bradley Lowry who died from cancer, whilst he was alive his family ran a very very successful fundraising campaign he was invited to lots of huge national events, we had huge football teams donating massive amounts of money. There are many young children in the same position but if you dont know how to work the media and social media it just isn't covered in the same way.

[saraclara]

Sarah Everard had a lot of very social media savvy friends and colleagues who knew what they were doing in regards to getting the news outlets and public whipped up.

I think that's a fair point.

[CagneyNYPD]

Sarah Everard's friends were very good at using social media in those first few days to spread the word on a huge scale. But yes, a pretty, middle class, professional woman will garner more attention.

Also, the man charged with Sarah's murder is a serving police officer. This in itself makes the case far more interesting to the media.

I am in Kent and we have had a lot of coverage in local media about Julia. It is incredibly sad. But there is also something else here which is making people feel very uncomfortable. Julia's murder is very similar to the Russell case in the 90s, and very near to where it happened. This is very unsettling. And I suspect part of the reason why the police are being very careful about what they do and don't say.

[chloworm]

I live in the area but didn't know Julia. It's very raw here. Close friends and family obviously trying to process this. It's a very close knit community. Be assured the police are on it and will leave no stone unturned. But women are frightened. So frightened, they won't even go for walks. The area is very isolated so I think the fear is the killer is still around, a local person. Agree though OP. Middle aged women are pretty much invisible.

[sashagabadon]

Sarah’s case only really became national when it was announced that a met police officer was arrested. Up to that point it was a London story. And then loads of band wagoners jumped on. There was definitely an element of female, young, white, attractive and importantly London based that helped but that’s not the whole story imo as other cases with those demographics get little attention. Any police officer will tell you people go missing all the time.
If a police officer is arrested in Julia’s case then everyone will be outraged again, if not they won’t.
RIP julia

[chloworm]

@CagneyNYPD

Sarah Everard's friends were very good at using social media in those first few days to spread the word on a huge scale. But yes, a pretty, middle class, professional woman will garner more attention.

Also, the man charged with Sarah's murder is a serving police officer. This in itself makes the case far more interesting to the media.

I am in Kent and we have had a lot of coverage in local media about Julia. It is incredibly sad. But there is also something else here which is making people feel very uncomfortable. Julia's murder is very similar to the Russell case in the 90s, and very near to where it happened. This is very unsettling. And I suspect part of the reason why the police are being very careful about what they do and don't say.

Yes, no-one will ever forget that. It was the most horrific thing. Bright, sunny day walking home from school. The convicted man's guilt has always been in question, so the fear is that the murderer is still around.

[lollipoprainbow]

Totally agree, a woman murderer in broad daylight and it barely gets a whisper in the media, where are the vigils and anger ??

[saraclara]

@sashagabadon

Sarah’s case only really became national when it was announced that a met police officer was arrested. Up to that point it was a London story. And then loads of band wagoners jumped on. There was definitely an element of female, young, white, attractive and importantly London based that helped but that’s not the whole story imo as other cases with those demographics get little attention. Any police officer will tell you people go missing all the time.
If a police officer is arrested in Julia’s case then everyone will be outraged again, if not they won’t.
RIP julia

I disagree. I'm not in London and there was a ton of national publicity when she was missing, and before the man was identified.

[Kinsters]

If I only read the guardian I'd have had no idea. Didn't see it covered there at all (could have missed it though). Seen it on BBC and Daily Mail. Its scary. I hope they find the guy who did it soon.

[Redgreenblueyellow]

Everyone's moved on, women being murdered is so last month - we're all about actors sexually harassing women this month don't cha know.

[SelkieFly]

I haven't heard of Julia James which only emphasises your point. But yes, I hate that it's seen as particularly sad when a young (white?) attractive woman is murdered. Like that 's a bigger loss.

[the80sweregreat]

I wondered where the vigil was for this poor lady too. Attacks on women are too common and it's sad that we are not safe anymore just doing normal things. her poor family must be so heartbroken.


RIP Julia James.

[FindingMeno]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who has noticed how differently these two murders have been covered.

[Avenueofcherryblossom]

I don’t know how much her being a PCSO has been a factor when there was so much animosity towards the police in the Sarah Everard case. Like those who shouted loudest can’t bring themselves to speak in support of a member of that institution

I think there is a lot of truth in this. If Julia had been a nurse, for example, I think there would have been more public shock and outpouring.

[tecatea]

Obviously what happened to both women is awful but the thing with Sarah is she was very representative of people who live in her area lifestyle wise & murder by a stranger is not meant to happen to those people.