******TRIGGER WARNING Powerful message from a midwife (re. the murder of Natalie Connolly) TRIGGER WARNING ******

WomanDaresTo all tgis e women, and some girls under 18. Heartbreaking. Our nation is failing womem and girls.

I've signed the petition and emailed AG. DH and DM have too. This case has really upset me. I hope there can be proper justice for Natalie.

Hello. Mumsnetters have collated many (not yet all) of these cases of men killing women and using sex game gone wrong as a defence. Have started a new thread but you can see them here:

www.wecantconsenttothis.uk/

Have emailed the attorney and signed the petitions. This case makes me sick to my stomach.

WomanWithAltitude thank you.

I've started a separate thread in AIBU for the petitions:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3459253-To-ask-you-to-sign-these-petitions-Natalie-Connellys-murder?watched=1

And yy. Either she was so drunk she could have believably seriously injured herself, and therefore could not possibly consent to what he did. Or she wasn't that drunk, therefore the injuries were inflicted by him. He can't have it both ways!

I believe she was too drunk to consent, and he beat and tortured her.

Would it be worth posting links to the petitions in AIBU? For the traffic?

This is a really important issue.

I also accept that some of the injuries Natalie suffered, including the bruising to her head and the blow out fracture to her left orbit – which were probably her most serious injuries - may have been caused accidentally as she stumbled around in a heavily intoxicated state and collided with objects or caught herself in the face with her watch. I do not hold you responsible for those.

If she was so intoxicated, then how the fuck did she consent!!!!!!!!

Great article here.

www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/dani-garavelli-disgusted-by-confederacy-of-lip-readers-and-hand-wringers-1-4848062

Still wondering how we can get more coverage of this, and more people to write to the AG.

Great submission by Laura Richards (thx feministfairy) that summarises the sexual violence and victimisation at play and how Natalie was more than likely murdered in a vindictive act of revenge, as her perpetrator took control. She also emphasises how remorseless he was - dead as a doughnut is the phrase he used to report her death - and how his lack of remorse was witnessed by paramedics. Certainly presents what sounds like a much more plausible scenario for her life being taken at his whim and further questions why the murder charge was reduced to manslaughter.

This is a shocking denial of justice to Natalie and her family as well as a stark warning for all women. It is also a perfect illustration of a justice system unfit for purpose for the majority of its population- women.

Excellent from Laura Richards:

www.laurarichards.co.uk/featured/misogyny-at-its-worst-hernamewasnatalieconnolly/

FFS Iused, for real? That is absolutely horrific.

I wish this was front page news.

As if any woman ever, would want one of those squirty bottles inside her.

Frightening how little women's lives are regarded.

Doinit I assume they mean one of those standard spray bottles with a lever to use to generate spray. Having inserted it, the trigger presumably became stuck as it is not exactly anatomically shaped.
Like anything else with a barb - only goes one way.

Sorry if this has already been answered, what is a trigger bottle??

Is it worth starting a new thread in AIBU? I'd love to see both those petitions grow!

It looks like there are two separate petitions on Change. Neither has many signatures. Please do take time to sign both.

Her Name was Natalie Connolly

www.change.org/p/attorney-general-her-name-was-natalie-connolly

Criminal punishment to fit the crime in domestic violence cases.

www.change.org/p/correspondence-attorneygeneral-gsi-gov-uk-criminal-punishment-to-fit-the-crime-in-domestic-violence-cases

I cannot see the thread on AIBU where this is discussed but if anyone else is willing to post both petitions into that thread it would be excellent, please.

Many thanks

Signed!

Her Name was Natalie Connolly

www.change.org/p/attorney-general-her-name-was-natalie-connolly

From Guardian item:

In Connolly’s case, much has been made of her sexual predilections, but, really, so what? It doesn’t mean that she fantasised about being beaten, killed or leaving her young daughter motherless. Besides, rough sex means different things to different people, and even very serious BDSM practitioners would have a safe-word to stop things going too far. This overplayed rough sex angle comes across as cynical victim-blaming – it fails to explain 40 injuries and bleach sprayed on her face.

Then another disturbing thought – that the CPS might have a point. That extreme violence against women by their partners, even when it results in death, remains so systemically downgraded in this country that trying for a guilty murder verdict could result in men such as Broadhurst walking free.

We need a statement from the CPS so that we know why they decided to accept the plea to manslaughter and drop both the charges of murder and GBH along with assault by penetration.

And, despite the sentencing remarks, I'm nowhere near understanding why the judge opted for Category C rather than B.