Victim blaming *trigger warning* vicious murder of woman

[Deadringer]

I am an avid reader and occasional poster in feminism chat but this is my first thread here. I have just been reading a trashy magazine, one which i would say have a predominantly female readership, when i happened across a story about a man who very viciously murdered his ex girlfriend. The article describes in detail how he beat her, stuffed her into a suitcase, then abandoned it by the side of the road so that she suffocated to death. He denied it of course but dna evidence was overwhelming and he was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years. A very shocking story you will agree, even without the grisly details which i have left out, but what really stood out to me was this extract from the story.
Police believe that the tragic couple got into a vicious altercation that left Valerie, who had moved on with a new partner, with severe injuries.
'Tragic couple'? 'Left her with severe injuries', how dare they use words like these, coupled with mentioning the fact that she had a new man. Am i being over sensitive, or is this disgusting victim blaming language?

[Thelnebriati]

Dear Goddess - this isnt even the case I thought it would be. There's another terrible case being shared on Reddit today.
YANBU. IPSO have standards for reporting domestic violence and sexual abuse, so you could check if the publication is a member.

www.ipso.co.uk/news-press-releases/blog/ipso-blog-reporting-on-domestic-violence/

www.ipso.co.uk/media/1871/reporting-domestic-abuse-in-the-media.pdf

[tribpot]

You're not being over-sensitive. This is the kind of language that campaigners have been asking the media to refrain from for years. It reinforces the notion of these being "isolated incidents" (that favourite phrase of the police) where normally non-violent men 'lose control', usually because of something the woman has done or not done.

I would make a complaint to the magazine, linking to the media guidelines I've mentioned above, and ask them to review their editorial policy on writing about violent crimes.

[TheSandgroper]

@DeadRinger. You need Jane Gilmore

janegilmore.com/category/fixedit/

www.facebook.com/JaneGilmoreWriter

[EightWheelGirl]

I see victim blaming all the time but that bit you highlighted didn't jump out at me. I think it mentioned the new partner as context for why he was so angry - clearly an abusive ex furious at losing control of her. And he did leave her with severe injuries if he beat her badly. Unless I'm missing something.

[Deadringer]

@EightWheelGirl

I see victim blaming all the time but that bit you highlighted didn't jump out at me. I think it mentioned the new partner as context for why he was so angry - clearly an abusive ex furious at losing control of her. And he did leave her with severe injuries if he beat her badly. Unless I'm missing something.

It doesn't say he left her with severe injuries though, it says she was left with severe injuries

[powershowerforanhour]

Some of those trashy mags targeted at women love a bit of salacious torture, rape and murder. Weird.

[Biscuitandacuppa]

Honestly I don’t even look at the magazine rack in my local shop, the headlines glorify murder, child rape and violent men. It’s profoundly wrong and they are all targeted at a female audience.

[Rocaille]

I don't know why this thread hasn't had more traction, or why some posters are implying it's women's fault for choosing to read magazines which feature such stories. For what it's worth OP, I agree with you completely.