Latest news with #victimadvocacy
The Herald
3 days ago
- The Herald
Eastern Cape woman dies in mysterious circumstances after hospitalisation in for GBV assault
A 51-year-old Eastern Cape woman died in a Mthatha hospital on Friday after an alleged gender-based violence incident at a car dealership two weeks ago. Provincial police spokesperson Capt Welile Matyolo said the woman's 57-year-old partner allegedly assaulted the woman when she visited him at the dealership where he works on May 31. He was arrested hours after her death on Friday. 'The suspect physically assaulted the victim at his workplace and took her to hospital on June 1. The suspect claimed his lover was assaulted by unknown thugs near the dealership,' Matyolo said. He visited her in hospital bringing her refreshments. 'The victim subsequently became sick and died at about 2pm that same day. Based on preliminary investigations using available electronic evidence, the suspect was arrested on Friday at about 7pm.' Matyolo said post-mortem results would determine the exact cause of the victim's death. Acting OR Tambo district commissioner Brig Vukile Ntuli commended the arrest and urged police to secure a conviction. 'We can no longer tolerate this brutal violence against women,' he said. TimesLIVE
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mom of murdered 11-year-old Jayden Perkins on facing killer in court as he represented himself: "This is sick"
The mother of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, who was stabbed to death protecting her from an attack by her ex-boyfriend, said his memory kept her strong as she had to face his killer in court. Laterria Smith was pregnant when she was stabbed 15 times by Crosetti Brand outside her home in Edgewater. Her son Jayden was killed trying to help her. "So I ran down the hall, trying to get away from him. Blood was just gushing from my neck. And that was like, 'I'm about to die,'" Smith recalled. "He, he stabbed my son. My son hit the floor. I said, 'Jayden, please get up.' He didn't move or anything. It just looked like my baby was sleeping right there on the floor." Smith and her baby girl survived; her daughter Jayda is named after the brother she will now only know through photos and videos. Brand was quickly caught and charged following the attack. "I want to see the person who did this to my son be put away forever," Smith said. A year later, Smith had to face Brand in court and, because he represented himself at trial, she was forced to be grilled by him on the witness stand. "I never even looked at him," she said. "I'm like sitting here, having to answer questions from the person who took my child away from me. This is sick." It was her son who kept her focused and strong. "At that moment, all I kept thinking about was my son Jayden. I'm like, 'I'm gonna sit here and do what I have to do so that I can get justice for him, 'cause I wanna see him, Brand, put away forever,'" she said. The 11-year-old was remembered for his talent, singing and dance, and how he'd light up a stage. His mom said he had drive and big dreams that were ripped away when he was killed. His memory is precious to her. "He always told me that, 'You're the best mom,'" she said through tears. "He always tell me like how much he love me and how great I'm doing as a mom." Jayden was a member of the Gus Giordano Dance Studio, where there is now a scholarship in his name. The first recipient was his best friend.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Domestic abuse: Housing Sanctuary Scheme 'gave me peace of mind'
A domestic violence victim who said she slept with a hammer beside her bed for protection has described a scheme that installed new cameras, locks and security lights at her home as a Murray, 34, said she was terrified her abusive ex-partner would attack her and her unborn child at she said the Housing Executive's Sanctuary Scheme helped her rebuild her scheme allows people to stay in their homes with additional security measures, including cameras, lights, door and window locks and safety rooms. Warning: This story contains details some may find distressingThe mother-of-one's ex-partner Donald Newell was sentenced in November 2023 to two years' probation after he was convicted of common assault, criminal damage and persistent improper use of electronic communications to cause anxiety against 35 from Saltcoats outside Glasgow, was also convicted of being in breach of a non-molestation order against Ms Murray and sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for two years."Donald was very scary," said Ms Murray."He preyed on the good in you, seeing the good in him."Whenever he'd come out of that rage, he would always have a rhyme and reason as to why he was doing it. "I was always the problem. It was always my fault."She described a litany of abuse directed at her by her former partner including being strangled, verbally abused in public and threatened."I didn't deserve for him to threaten my life. I didn't deserve any of that," she would "always promise he would get help", she added, but the abuse got recalled a night when getting into the car with her former partner, who was drunk."He was pushing my face into the car window. Telling me he was going to cave my head in. He was going to punch me."He then broke the ligaments and tendons in my fingers."On another occasion, Newell drove a car into one being driven by Ms Murray, who was five months pregnant."He followed me down the dual carriageway and rammed me."I was pregnant and had reduced movement and had to go to hospital." What does the Sanctuary Scheme do? But she said the help received through the Housing Executive's Sanctuary Scheme gave her "real peace of mind".Living in a one-bedroom flat and pregnant, Ms Murray said her house was red-flagged due to the risk Newell posed to her and her unborn daughter."He was given a non-molestation order to stay away within a mile of my property. But that didn't stop him," she part of the scheme, the Housing Executive installed door and window alarms, flood lights, cameras and heavy-duty door locks."If anyone tries the door, the alarms go off; if anyone taps my window, the alarms go off," she said."I rely on the alarms. I can watch my home from my cameras when I'm out also."It just gives me that peace of mind."She added: "The thought of him knowing where I was whenever he leaves jail or after the non-molestation order ran out was actually a very scary thing. I was always on edge."So the fact that I can surround myself with good neighbours that are able to keep an eye out for me is a big relief."My daughter can grow up in peace and safety away from him." How does social housing work for domestic abuse victims? Kerry Logan, from Housing Rights, welcomed the scheme but said she would like to see it extended beyond Housing Executive also said an underlying issue was the urgent need for the government to build more social homes."With more than 49,000 households on the social housing waiting list in Northern Ireland and a temporary accommodation crisis, it can be very challenging for people fleeing domestic violence abuse to find a safe place to live in the time frame that they need it," she Logan also called for people experiencing domestic abuse to be prioritised on the social housing waiting list, by giving them access to a "much higher level of points than they're currently able to". Previously, victims of domestic violence were awarded less points for social housing than victims of terrorism or paramilitary that changed in May when intimidation points were removed from social housing Minister Gordon Lyons said it was to "level the playing field for victims of violence".Figures from October 2023 to March 2024 show that 607 people presented as homeless due to the treat of domestic violence compared to 101 for Long, chief executive of the Housing Executive, said balancing the system is "a long-term project". She said the removal of intimidation points was recommended to the department by the Housing Executive and that it is now putting in place a system that "ensures that the points that are allocated better reflect the nature of the violence and the scale of the violence".She added: "I think the public understand the profound effect that domestic violence has on women. "It's really important we talk about these things and build public awareness."If you are affected by any of the issues raised, help and support is available via BBC Action Line.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man found guilty of rape, domestic violence in Berkshire County
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A man was found guilty of domestic violence and sexual assault charges in Berkshire County District Court on Friday in connection with an incident in 2017. Berkshire District Attorney's Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin shared that 34-year-old Christopher King was found guilty of Rape, Suffocation of Strangulation, and Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member. King was found not guilty on a second count of Rape. Pittsfield police seize over a kilo of cocaine, guns, and cash in drug raid, one arrested These charges and guilty verdict follow a 2017 incident involving King and an intimate partner. Court documents stated that King has a domestic violence history, and in 2017, he pleaded guilty to Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member. 'I first want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward and testifying during the trial. I also want to thank the jury,' said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. 'This is the second guilty verdict surrounding sexual assault in just two weeks. While rape is all to common, it is extremely difficult to prosecute. The CSI effect has resulted in juries expecting evidence that simply does not exist in the real world. Domestic and sexual violence are often misunderstood allowing many perpetrators to evade justice.' King is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, May 28, in Berkshire Superior Court. 22News will provide updates as more information becomes available. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man found guilty of child sex crime in New Mexico
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A man was found guilty of criminal sexual contact of a minor under the age of 13, the Doña Ana County District Attorney's Office said in a news release on Friday, May 16. A jury found Adam Litz guilty of assaulting an 8-year-old girl during a sleepover, the DA's Office said. Litz was remanded into custody pending sentencing. The DA's Office did not say when the sentencing hearing will be. Litz was found guilty in an incident in which an 8-year-old girl was assaulted during a sleepover at a friend's house. During the sleepover, the friend's father, Litz, entered the room and sexually assaulted the victim, the DA's Office said. 'The jury's verdict has brought justice and closure to the victim in this case,' said Senior Trial Attorney Arthur Van Haselen, who prosecuted the case. 'This is a victory for the whole community. I am so happy we were able to get justice for that little girl and closure for the family,' Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson said. The DA's Office said the young victim and her family showed courage throughout the process. 'Their bravery, along with the hard work of law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates, led to a just outcome,' the DA's Office said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
