One of the most painful experiences for survivors of domestic abuse is hearing someone close to them say: “I doubt he’ll kill you.” It may be intended as reassurance, but to someone living with abuse, those words can feel dismissive, minimising, and dangerously out of touch with reality. The truth is that relatives, friends, and… Read More “I Doubt He’ll Kill You” – Why Well-Meaning Relatives Can Get It Wrong
Several countries and jurisdictions have introduced schemes inspired by Clare’s Law, although they vary in how much information can be disclosed and who can request it. United Kingdom The UK has the most established system: Canada Several provinces have adopted or proposed Clare’s Law legislation: Australia Countries considering similar laws A number of countries have debated… Read More Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
There are sadly many cases where victims disclosed abuse, raised concerns, or were not fully believed or understood until after a serious assault or homicide. Every case is different, but they demonstrate why disclosures should be taken seriously. Some well-known examples include: These cases highlight an important lesson: not every disclosure is ignored, but when warnings… Read More Taking it seriously
Understanding the Overlap Between Intimate Partner Violence and Harm to Children Domestic abuse and child abuse are often discussed as separate issues. In reality, they frequently exist within the same household and can be driven by the same underlying patterns of coercion, control, and entitlement. Research consistently shows that while not every person who abuses… Read More When Domestic Abuse Crosses Into Child Abuse
For years, survivors have carried an impossible burden. “Why didn’t you know?” “Why didn’t you leave?” “Didn’t you see the signs?” The truth is that many abusers do not introduce themselves as violent. They introduce themselves as charming, attentive, generous, funny, and devoted. The coercive control often begins quietly and escalates over time. A publicly… Read More The Past Doesn’t Always Stay in the Past
A phenomenon that psychologists sometimes call normalcy bias, optimism bias, and, in some cases, epistemic injustice. When someone finally discloses domestic abuse and hears responses such as: “I doubt he’ll kill you.” “You’ll both meet someone else and move on.” “Every couple argues.” the speaker may think they are being reassuring. However, from a psychological perspective, they may… Read More Epistemic injustice.
Three doctors (one in France and two in Spain), three psychologists (one in France and two in Spain), a forensic psychologist in the UK, friends in three countries, and family members all reached the same conclusion. They could not all be wrong. It took many years and many attempts before I finally made the decision… Read More Abuse Assessment Checklist
The story of 48-year-old Plymouth nurse and lecturer Claire Chick is one of the clearest and most devastating examples of the dangers of stalking, coercive control, and domestic abuse escalation. Claire repeatedly sought help. Court proceedings heard that she contacted police six times in the months before her death, reporting harassment, stalking, threats, unwanted contact,… Read More “I honestly feel like Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am constantly afraid of leaving my house.”
A Trauma-Informed, Public Health & Justice Framework Executive Summary Domestic homicide is predictable, preventable, and systemic. Research consistently demonstrates that domestic homicide is not a sudden act of violence, but the final stage of an escalating pattern of coercive control, psychological abuse, fear-based domination, and trauma entrapment. This strategy proposes a multi-layered prevention model combining: Domestic homicide must be treated… Read More Domestic Homicide Prevention Strategy
A Trauma-Informed Framework for Justice in Domestic Abuse Cases Executive Summary Domestic abuse is not a series of isolated incidents — it is a sustained pattern of coercive control and psychological domination that produces long-term neurological, emotional, and socioeconomic harm. Current legal systems largely fail to recognise the cumulative nature of this trauma, leading to: Legal reform must integrate neuroscience, trauma psychology,… Read More Legal Reform Recommendations
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 