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Feminism: chat

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Tara Newbold case: a woman is killed and the police don't seem to care

31 replies

hackmum · 23/02/2018 11:13

Such an awful story. In brief: a woman, Tara Newbold, complains repeatedly to the police that her partner is violent but the police do nothing. She is then found dead and despite the fact that she has 37 injuries on her body, including seven broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung, the coroner decides that the cause of death is cocaine toxicity. The partner is charged with, and found guilty of, "grievous bodily harm with intent."

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/23/tara-newbolds-death-37-injuries-but-no-charge

OP posts:

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UpstartCrow · 23/02/2018 12:09

Misogyny is a hate crime in Nottingham, and this is how it will actually play out for women.

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SuperTimbs · 23/02/2018 12:10

I came here to post about this. Absolutely heartbreaking. Anyone know how you can challenge the coronor's findings? A petition?

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whatnow123 · 23/02/2018 12:11

It's not quite as you say. The post mortem concluded she had died of cocaine use. Prior that a murder enquiry was being conducted.

As anybody who has dealt with DV will tell you it's complex. If simply calling the Police was enough to safeguard DV victims long term the problem would be solved.

However, it's the ongoing process of securing a conviction that is so difficult. As understandably, many victims cant follow it through.

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squishysquirmy · 23/02/2018 12:18

That article is chilling.
She was subjected to just about every form of abuse it is possible to inflict upon a person. and he was charged only with GBH.

"Ballin had cleared out her bank account while she was away, leaving her financially dependent. His control had become so excessive that he would not allow Tara’s two eldest children downstairs - and would not allow her upstairs. Buckets of urine were found in the kitchen."

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UpstartCrow · 23/02/2018 12:19

whatnow123 did you read the article? She was subjected to coercive control, as were her children. And the post mortem results are being challenged.

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TabbyMack · 23/02/2018 12:31

On what basis are you concluding that the "police don't seem to care"?

An autopsy by a forensic pathologist concluded that she did not die of injuries but instead of cocaine toxicity. So it would have been impossible for the police to charge him with murder or manslaughter - if they had, he'd have been acquitted in court, if it got that far.

GBH with intent is actually a very serious offence, it's not a slap on the wrist. Given the circumstances & evidence available to them that was the most serious offence they could charge him with.

No "petition" will magic up evidence from thin air. If a genuine challenge to the PM findings can be mounted, that's one thing.....but I see no reason to believe that the police "don't seem to care".

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TabbyMack · 23/02/2018 12:34

"Coercive control" is not murder & without Tara there to give evidence herself any charge of emotional abuse would be impossible.

Blame the prick who did this, not the police who have clearly done their best.

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TitaniasCloset · 23/02/2018 12:39

If she was stuck in the house then how did she get the cocaine? He would have had t

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TitaniasCloset · 23/02/2018 12:39

Ugh sorry

He would have had to get it for her surely?

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hackmum · 23/02/2018 13:04

Tabby: "An autopsy by a forensic pathologist concluded that she did not die of injuries but instead of cocaine toxicity."

But it's quite possible that she was forced to ingest cocaine by her partner - this is certainly what her parents believe.

OP posts:

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TitaniasCloset · 23/02/2018 13:50

Yes exactly.

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PersianCatLady · 23/02/2018 13:59

Why do women stay with men like this?

If I had a DD and I knew this was happening to her, I would do everything I could to get her away from a bastard like this.

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BelindasRedPlasticHandcuffs · 23/02/2018 14:53

Why do women stay with men like this?

Anyone with that attitude can fuck right off.

Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is to get away from an abusive partner?

One of my dearest friends was abused by her ex. All fairly low level control that ramped up over time, but enough to isolate her completely in spite of her friends and family trying to get her out. He eroded all sense of her self worth so that she was never sure whether she hated him or loved him, whether he was abusing her or whether she deserved it because she she was as worthless and unloveable as he said she was.

She eventually gathered the courage to leave after finding out he'd been cheating on her the whole time they'd been together. He stalked her for months afterwards and the police didn't help her as they should have.

She was desperately trying to get away from him. She was terrified and unprotected. He went to her house one night and murdered her.

The most dangerous time for an abused woman is when she tries to escape, or during pregnancy/soon after birth - that time where the abuser feels like he's losing control. It is never as easy as just 'why does she stay', particularly when the people that are supposed to support you aren't doing a damn thing. It is NOT the woman's fault for not leaving.

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StormTreader · 23/02/2018 14:55

If she was having to pee in a bucket because she couldnt go upstairs, she's hardly likely to be skipping off to buy drugs down the pub, or have her partner generously sharing his with her. Its terrible to think that anyone can be murdered as long as they force the victim to ingest a lethal dose of a "recreational drug".

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whatnow123 · 23/02/2018 14:58

UpstartCrow - Yes I did read it and it appears she was subject to horrific DV abuse. There is no evidence the Police let this person down.

Did he force her in consume cocaine. Possibly. If the Police had the forensic evidence to prove that, no doubt they would have pursued that line of enquiry.

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ThomasHardyPerennial · 23/02/2018 15:28

PersianCatLady Outstanding victim blaming there. Double gold star for blaming Tara, and her parents. I'm sure you feel very proud of yourself, but I honestly despair of opinions like yours.

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PersianCatLady · 23/02/2018 16:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

PersianCatLady · 23/02/2018 16:22

Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is to get away from an abusive partner?
Yes, I do.

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TimbuktuTimbuktu · 23/02/2018 16:23

Surely you have to ingest a huge amount of cocaine to overdose? I have never heard of anyone oding on it before?

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Popchyk · 23/02/2018 16:25

Persian, how on earth do you know what her parents did or didn't do?

You are blaming her parents, they are victims here as well. They have lost their daughter, they are now bringing up her three children.

Here's the thing. It was his fault. He was the one who battered her.

Strewth.

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PersianCatLady · 23/02/2018 16:37

I am not going to comment further on this thread, I have my opinions and other people have their opinions.

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ThomasHardyPerennial · 23/02/2018 17:13

You were blaming Tara, PersianCatLady! The question you asked in your first comment was victim blaming all those who cannot escape their abusers. Don't tell me to fuck off for pointing out your lack of empathy.

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PersianCatLady · 23/02/2018 17:17

Again as you seem to have missed it the first time - I am not going to comment further on this thread, I have my opinions and other people have their opinions.

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worita · 23/02/2018 17:21

"I have my opinions".

Yes and they're shit, well done you.

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thecatfromjapan · 23/02/2018 17:41

I think TabbyMack has it.

After the autopsy report, without actual proof of his having forced her to consume the cocaine - despite there being circumstantial evidence pointing to that - the police would have been advised not to pursue a murder conviction. A good legal representative would have seen him walking away with a "no guilty" for that, in all likelihood - and I doubt anyone would have wanted that, not least the police.

I honestly think the only way forward is more education about domestic abuse, more taking seriously of domestic abuse and - crucially - vastly more help for women trying to leave (and a part of that would be some way of intervening earlier). I think we'd have to have a sea-change in political and social opinion for that to happen, though.

(I think PersianCatLady's comments suggest how far we have to go.)