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

It is horrendous. Long-term abuse should carry a strong sentence, really. It does seem incredibly over-difficult to prosecute.

It's like no one cares. And the police are powerless. Very scary.

Stormtreader has hit the nail soundly on the head. The DCI has stated in writing that effectively if a pathologist returns a verdict of cocaine toxicity the police are powerless. If the parties did not know each other though it may be a different story otherwise any kidnap victim could be killed with class a drugs.
Very frightening and very sobering. He might want to rethink that statement in the wake of the recent developments in respect of Louella Michie's death

Yes. RIP, Tara. And thoughts and best wishes to those who knew and loved her.

RIP Tara, I'm so sorry this happened to you

There probably wasn't enough evidence to prove he forced her to take cocaine although I'd happily have convicted him of murder if I'd been on the jury.

Surely the 39 injuries contributed to her death? I'd have thought it could have been manslaughter.

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.)

"I have my opinions".

Yes and they're shit, well done you.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

Yes exactly.

Ugh sorry

He would have had to get it for her surely?

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

"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.