Georgia Barter took her own life in 2020 after being a long-term victim of domestic abuse. Her mother stated that Georgia died 'because she wanted the pain of the abuse to stop'. Five years later, a coroner ruled it an 'unlawful killing', despite the Crown Prosecution Service deciding there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.
Landmark Report on Domestic Abuse Deaths
The Guardian's senior correspondent Geraldine McKelvie and northern correspondent Hannah Al-Othman spoke to Nosheen Iqbal about the lives of women who died by suicide after sustained campaigns of domestic abuse. Last week, a landmark report revealed that in the UK last year, there were 347 deaths following domestic violence; 150 of those were from suicide and 125 were domestic homicides. Campaigners are pushing for a change in the law to investigate all domestic abuse-related suicides as potential homicides.
Support Helplines
In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.
