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Original poster

The Murder of Julia James

130 replies

saraclara · 02/05/2021 09:57

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

OP posts:
toocold54 · 02/05/2021 19:23

Following up my post, I know those stats are still awful, but it's not the US, and it's not really comparable to violence against women and girls; it's a different issue.

@Charley50

It was me who brought up violence against women vs black men as OP said why is there more coverage of Sarah than other women that have been murdered and it’s partly because it was caused by a male police officer which makes the crime worse because he’s meant to protect us. Similar to why there is outrage of police killing black men because they’re meant to protect them/trained to stay calm etc.

Unfortunately we can’t hold a vigil for every women killed but Sarah’s death which was caused by a police officer highlighted the danger females are in even when around ‘trustworthy’ men.

BettyUnderswoob · 02/05/2021 20:52

I thought this too, OP

This case is just as horrific as SE.

RIP Julia

HouseofWindsor · 02/05/2021 20:57

I didn't realise this thread was here. I've just started a post on Feminism Chat about the lack of interest in this case.

No vigils
No Patsy actress

So sad.

MyDogTails · 02/05/2021 22:57

Julia's death caught me and took my breath away. As another middle aged woman (40+) who walks a dog at all hours of the day and night, I felt the absolute injustice of it. No-one deserves to die but especially not within a hundred metres of her house in a remote spot.
Poor Julia. RIP

CorianderBee · 03/05/2021 11:50

Sarah was missing which meant people gripped into the hope that she might be found alive. So people were devastated when that didn't happen.

Also she's around my age and lived a 10 minute walk away down a road I too had often walked at night. So that's a big reason why it scared me so much.

And yes, Sarah was very beautiful and I think that does make people more sympathetic to the case. It's always been a bit like that hasn't it.

CorianderBee · 03/05/2021 11:54

Not saying that it's right that that happens, but it's always been the case that young, beautiful white women are focused on more. Ageism, racism, classism and pretty privilege I'd suggest all come into play.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/05/2021 11:56

I'd never heard of the poor women until now, so. That's how much attention she's getting.

Babyroobs · 03/05/2021 12:31

The Sarah Everard vigil was an exception though. There have been at least 3 women killed in my home town in the last couple of months and there were no vigils. One died in the street, although killed by someone known to her.

VladmirsPoutine · 03/05/2021 12:34

Sarah Everard's vigil was an exception. So much so the duchess attended sans mask, which makes me wonder what marked out Sarah so significantly given the stats on women being killed.

Alternista · 03/05/2021 12:48

Yes, I do feel uneasy about this phenomenon. It’s the same sort of thing as the Madeleine McCann effect, isn’t it. Young, white, pretty does seem to get more attention and of course it shouldn’t be that way.

Other things I reflect on: Julia WAS frontpage on the BBC website for several days. And I think a missing person enquiry unfolding in real time, complete with social media campaign, cctv, map/route releases in a busy area is much more “attention grabbing” (though no less heinous) than someone whose body has already been found in a rural location with none of those factors, sadly.

I also wonder if the police already have a solid lead. In my (limited, observational) experience, the cases where I think “FFS why aren’t they doing more?” if often turns out to have been because the police already knew where they were heading with it.

God, what wouldn’t we all give to live in a world where this didn’t need to be a conversation Sad

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/05/2021 18:27

Her daughter has said that she does not want a vigil but people can have a candle on their doorstep if they wish

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/05/2021 18:28

And women are reminded to go out with a charged phone and to tell people where they are going

VikingVolva · 04/05/2021 18:31

There was a piece n the BBC national news his evening, one week on from the discovery of her body.

It's a major investigation for Kent police, but they seem to have no leads, and cannot rule out stranger attack. And they are warning the public to be extra vigilant if they go out alone

"On Monday, Kent Police advised people living near Akholt Wood, Snowdown, to tell someone where they are going if they leave their home, and to plan their route.
Ch Insp Dan Carter said people should "remain cautious, vigilant and aware of your surroundings when you are out and about"

AbsolutelyPatsy · 04/05/2021 18:33

There were police in my local woods, I wonder if they are searching all woods on an off chance

KeflavikAirport · 04/05/2021 19:13

Compare and contrast with the murders of Bennylynn Burke and her two-year-old daughter www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-56608335 Exact time frame as Sarah Everard, about 100th of the coverage.

Siablue · 04/05/2021 20:03

Who can sneak the other 51 women killed this year and there will be more who are missing or whose deaths were not classed as suspicious.
mobile.twitter.com/CountDeadWomen/status/1389640456779321352

Most people don’t know because it happens so often.

Siablue · 04/05/2021 20:05

I obviously meant name. I have no idea what autocorrect was doing there.

Blacklampshades · 04/05/2021 20:29

I agree, was only thinking a few days ago “where’s all the anger and all the hashtags #justwalkingherdog 😢

Clawdy · 08/05/2021 13:13

Someone has been arrested this morning.

AuntieStella · 08/05/2021 13:17

BBC about the attack:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-57036831

The police continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area to come forwards, especially if they saw anyone who made them feel uneasy.

Sad she was only walking her dog

ItsSnowJokes · 08/05/2021 13:22

I have kept publicising this case on my social media as I feel exactly the same as you. Julia has been treated appallingly with the lack of press. Maybe now someone has been arrested publicity may follow but the family and friend of Julia must be devastated. They even had to put up a reward for help in catching her killer.

dayswithaY · 08/05/2021 14:08

I'm so pleased I found this thread as the overall lack of reporting on this case has bothered me.

I wonder how many people know that on Bank holiday Monday just gone, 45 year old Maria Rawlings' body was found in a hedge, confirmed murdered. She was walking home from a hospital appointment. I'm sorry I can't do links but although you can find the story online it has barely been reported on at all. Where is the outrage, where is the anger at this woman's violent death?

Although the public outcry over Sarah Everard's murder was positive and it did feel like something was changing in this country, disappointingly it seems like that moment is over. It appears we are now back to barely mentioning the names of women who have been murdered in broad daylight. No hashtags, no calls for change.

RIP Julia and Maria.

Gothichouse40 · 08/05/2021 15:20

Ive just heard on the radio, they have arrested a man in his 20s in Julia James case. Im sorry to say I am not familiar with Maria's case at all, but had heard about Bennylynn and her daughter. Mind you the media report what they want and to my mind are very biased.

DragonMuff · 08/05/2021 15:28

RIP Julia. I’m pleased the police have made a breakthrough and hope this leads to justice for her.

I don’t necessarily agree with the tenor of this thread. I have seen a fair bit of coverage about this case. Julia James has got less coverage than Sarah Everard, but she has got more coverage than plenty of other murdered women who get literally none. It just isn’t ever going to happen that every murder is going to generate the level of publicity and interest that Sarah Everard’s did.

I think it was partly that Sarah Everard was white, attractive and middle class but I think it was plenty to do with that she was missing having been snatched off the street by a serving police officer. Had she been found murdered with no suspect identified initially then I doubt the coverage would have been the same despite her socio-economic status.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 08/05/2021 15:34

I think it’s partially because Sarah went missing and people hoped she’d be found alive whereas Julia’s body was found straight away.

It is sad though. I mentioned Sarah to DH last night actually, haven’t read a thing about the case in the news for well over a month. So strange to think such a huge deal was made of it at the time.

I feel for both women and their families, just horrible.