Murder case ‘stark reminder’ of Wales’ domestic abuse toll
The case of a man jailed for the murder of his girlfriend is “a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic abuse”, a charity has warned.
Jordan Matthews was sentenced to life imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, with a minimum term of 18 years, after being found guilty of the murder of his partner Xixi Bi.
A court heard how Matthews subjected 24-year-old Ms Bi to “gratuitous violence” which resulted in her death at their home in Llandaff, Cardiff, last August. Welsh Women’s Aid and Cardiff Women’s Aid described the case as a “stark reminder”.
Eleri Butler, chief executive of Welsh Women’s Aid, said: “On average, two women a week are killed in England and Wales by a partner or ex-partner.
“Coercive controlling behaviour is the most dangerous form of abuse.
“We must work together to prevent domestic abuse happening in the first place and to enable women and children to access the support and safety they need at an earlier stage.”
Figures show more than 34,000 instances of domestic abuse were recorded by South Wales Police alone last year – equivalent to an average of 93 incidents reported to police every day, or one every quarter of an hour.
There was one incident of domestic abuse reported to police in South Wales every 15 minutes last year – an indication of the shocking rate of violence at home.
In total, more than 34,000 instances of domestic abuse were recorded by South Wales Police last year.
It means that last year in South Wales – an area stretching from Cardiff to Swansea and including most of the Valleys area – there were an average of 93 incidents reported to police every day.
The figures come as Jordan Matthews was given a life sentence by a Cardiff Crown Court judge for the murder of his girlfriend.
The case has been described by Welsh Women’s Aid and Cardiff Women’s Aid as being “a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic abuse”.
Xixi Bi was murdered by Jordan Matthews, who subjected his partner to what the judge described as “gratuitous violence” which resulted in the 24-year-old’s death, at their home in Llandaff, Cardiff, last August.
The court heard she had been subject to physical and verbal abuse by Matthews – who has been ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years behind bars – which she had tried to cover up.
Charities supporting victims of abuse say that two women every week die at the hands of their partner or ex-partner.
Eleri Butler, chief executive of Welsh Women’s Aid, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Xixi Bi.
“On average, two women a week are killed in England and Wales by a partner or ex-partner.
“Coercive controlling behaviour is the most dangerous form of abuse.
“We must work together to prevent domestic abuse happening in the first place and to enable women and children to access the support and safety they need at an earlier stage.”
Richard Lewis, from homelessness charity Llamau, said domestic abuse was one of the principal causes of homelessness among women.
“The new UK-wide law on coercive control passed last year means that perpetrators of domestic abuse have fewer places to hide,” he added.
“In Wales, the ground-breaking Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act, which was passed in 2015, means that public bodies in Wales need to do more to respond to domestic abuse. It aims to end all forms of abuse and violence against women.
“To do this, we need to work together to end all forms of abuse, not just physical violence.
“Despite this progress, the demand on our services is constant. Last year we worked with 880 women and children fleeing from domestic abuse. We also worked with over 1,600 other women and children who were at risk of experiencing domestic violence through our preventative outreach programmes.
“People who are experiencing domestic abuse face a wide range of issues. Many, for example are facing financial hardship because of debt that their partner may have built up in their name, and trying to rebuild their lives with children traumatised by what they have witnessed in the family home.”
Mr Lewis said that of those experiencing domestic abuse that Llamau supported last year, 95% were subject to some emotional abuse and 80% to psychological abuse. Four in five (79%) were physically abused.
Meanwhile, more than three in five children (63%) supported in a refuge had witnessed the abuse of their mother, while one in five had
themselves been an abuse victim.
He also said that studies showed victims living in the most dangerous situations live for an average of more than two years before seeking help.
He added: “Of the people we supported last year in our domestic abuse services, 98% reported domestic abuse happening repeatedly to them. These numbers must come down.
“We’re calling on both the UK and the Welsh Governments to make sure that tackling domestic abuse is everyone’s business. We want people to be better able to access support and advice in their own home, that emergency services for people in crisis are well funded, and that we are actively making Wales a place which is hostile to domestic abuse.”
High-profile recent cases have included the deaths of Joanna Michael, who was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack by her ex-boyfriend Cyron Williams at her St Mellons, Cardiff, home; Assia Newton, murdered by her husband Kelvin Newton in Pencoed; and Nadine Aburas, killed in a Cardiff hotel room by estranged partner Sammy Almahri.
But South Wales saw the one of the lowest rates of women being killed by men anywhere in England and Wales, according to the Femicide Census report published last year and based on figures for 2009 to 2015.
By contrast, the Gwent police force area witnessed a rate which was more than double that in South Wales.
Detective Chief Inspector David Hough, of South Wales Police’s Public Protection Unit, said that although anyone could be a victim of domestic abuse, it was more likely to be targeted at women – and men are more likely to use a range of controlling and coercive behaviours in relationships.
He added: “In the last year, South Wales Police dealt with over 34,000 reported incidents of domestic abuse which also impacts significantly on children and family life.
“South Wales Police is committed to combat this crime, from the Commissioner and Chief Constable through to our Public Service Centre call handlers, first response officers and investigators.
“A series of projects and initiatives aimed at improved identification and intervention, ensuring a victim centred approach and encouraging prevention have been implemented to enable increased reporting at the earliest opportunity to police and other agencies.”
Addressing victims, DCI Hough added: “You are not alone, it’s not your fault. You are not responsible for the behaviour of others against you.
“We understand how living in a coercive and controlling relationship may make it difficult to disclose.
“Please, tell someone at the earliest opportunity. It doesn’t have to be the police – it can be a family member, or a professional that you trust.”
And he said: “We say to perpetrators of domestic abuse ‘It is you who are responsible for the abusive behaviour and actions you choose to use within your relationship.
“There is no excuse – abusive and violent behaviour is not about being angry, it is about your desire to control your partner.
“‘We will seek to hold you to account for your actions. You have the choice to contact the National Respect Helpline to seek support to explore a change in your behaviour’.”
Anyone affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence or any other form of violence against women in Wales can contact the Live Fear Free Helpline on 0808 80 10 800 or via its webchat provision for 24-hour, confidential information and support, and help to access local services across the country.