Women in Scotland are far more likely to be killed by their partners than a stranger – but domestic violence is also one of the main reasons women take their own lives.
There are growing calls for suicide to be taken into account as well as homicides when collecting data on domestic abuse.
It comes as proposals to help reduce deaths caused by domestic abuse were published in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.
The family of one woman, who took her own life after suffering at the hands of her partner, want tougher sentences for those who push their victims into thinking there’s no other way out.
STV NewsDemi Hannoway was just 23 when she took her own life in Airdrie in May 2021.
She had suffered verbal and physical abuse from her partner Andrew Brown, something her family only found out when they uncovered messages on Demi’s phone weeks after her death.
Demi’s mother Helen Simpson told STV News: “The messages said go kill yourself, there were pictures of strangulation marks on her neck, bruising on her face…my world stood still.”
Andrew Brown was jailed for three and a half years after admitting to threatening and abusive behaviour.
STV NewsHelen refuses to believe Demi would take her own life, and believes her daughter’s partner should have been charged with killing her.
Helen added: “He gets to live his life while our lives have been ruined.”
Demi’s family say they will never stop fighting for an investigation into her death and for a tougher sentence for her abuser.
On Wednesday, a new bill to help reduce deaths caused by domestic abuse was published in parliament, which the justice secretary hopes will be passed by the end of the year.
Angela Constance said: “We have a statutory model to review events that compels all the agencies involved following a death where domestic abuse is suspected or has occurred and it’s so that our agencies can work together, can identify lessons that have been learned and agree priorities for change.”
Charities have welcome the bill but have said it’s long overdue.
STV NewsMuna Ali from Scottish Women’s Aid said: “There are lots of aspects of domestic abuse that is hidden, child contact, financial abuse, domestic abuse. Suicide is one of the things – it’s ranked as she did that because she was sad, they’re not discussing the reason behind it.”
In the last decade, 62 women have been killed by their partners – but for bereaved families like Demi’s, they hope reform will be on the way to save others from the same pain.
Help and support is available now if you need it. Details of services available can be found at stv.tv/advice
The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Details of other services and more information can be found on the NHS website here.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
