30/06/2019
Shocking news emerged yesterday about a woman stabbed to death in Croydon. The woman was eight months pregnant and paramedics managed to deliver the baby, who is in a critical condition in hospital.
The 26-year-old woman was found with stab wounds at a home in Raymead Avenue, in the Thornton Heath area of the Borough of Croydon, at 03:30 a.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name was Kelly Mary Fauvrelle.
I'm not writing this piece as a statement against knife crime, although I am obviously appalled at the ongoing problem being experienced in London, and elsewhere.
No, I am actually trying to highlight the awful state of violence against women.
A week ago today, my daughter was awoken by a commotion in the street, just at the top of our close, at about 6:00 a.m. There was a heavy police presence and an awful lot of screaming.
In the hours and days that followed, the police presence increased, many marked and unmarked police cars (including armed officers) were parked outside the address, along with the vans used by forensic officers. This was the case, 24 hours a day, for four days and then today, a week after the incident, they are back.
My daughter and I were interviewed by CID officers from Southampton, trying to piece together what had happened, but also looking for background information on those concerned.
Sadly, a young woman had been murdered in the early hours of Sunday 24th June; the commotion that woke my daughter was actually family members who had heard the news and come to the victim's home; distraught at what had happened to this 30 year old mother.
The police arrested a man that afternoon; he was he victim's husband.
These crimes are awful. They leave devastation behind. In the case in Croydon, those left behind include the baby who will never meet their mother; assuming those fighting to save the child's life are successful, which I sincerely hope they are.
A week ago it was Lucy Rushton. She apparently had three children, although I usually saw her with just two walking back and forth from (I believe) a local nursery. I presume the third child was older and attending school during the day, when I typically saw her and occasionally chatted to her.
Whilst I did say hello and exchanged pleasantries with her, answering questions from her son about my caravan, I never knew her name.
Not all cases of abuse or violence against women lead to a death; indeed, I would imagine that those who have been murdered had suffered prior physical, verbal and / or sexual abuse.
I don't know if it is possible to bring an end to such abuse against women.
I do know that we should be trying to stop the abuse.
When any abuse is identified, steps should be taken to protect them from their abusers.
If people become aware of an abusive relationship, they should report it; either to the police or to the organisations that exist to help victims.
Please don't assume that someone else will report the situation.
Please don't think that the victims will contact the police if there is a need.
Report it.
Where appropriate, offer support to the victim; let them know they are not alone and that someone knows about their plight, let them know there is support available.
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