Calls to protect women fleeing domestic violence after man jailed for murdering partner
The sentencing comes after a number of Scottish women were murdered at the hands of men in recent weeks.
The justice system “minimises” the risk posed by abusive partners, campaigners have claimed, after a man was jailed for 22 years for murdering his partner with a claw hammer despite being banned from contacting her.
Samantha Lee, a mother of three, was left with catastrophic head injuries after being attacked by Joseph Greer, 40, her partner of four years, in a “prolonged and violent” assault in Aberdeen.
At the time of the murder, Greer was banned from approaching or contacting Ms Lee, 54, after being granted bail with special conditions following an earlier assault in October, when he repeatedly struck her in the street with the handset of a public phone. At the time of Ms Lee’s murder, he was wearing an electronic tag.
Dr Masha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women’s Aid, said the most dangerous time for survivors and their children is when they are “trying to extricate themselves from an abuser’s control” and that services had to work together to protect women “before, during and long after separation”.
Dr Scott said: “These tragic cases are a devastating reminder that our system so often minimises the risk from abusers and in doing so puts their children and partners or, often, ex-partners directly in harm’s way.
“Separation does not mean safety.
“The most dangerous time for survivors and their children is when they are trying to extricate themselves from an abuser’s control.
“Preventing these deaths means recognising coercive control, reforming system approaches to risk assessment, ensuring women can leave safely with specialist support, and making sure our justice, housing and public services respond to the risks women face before, during and long after separation.”
Greer was handed a life sentence on Friday, with sentencing judge Lord Renucci branding domestic abuse “a scourge on our society”.
This case comes just weeks after two other Scottish women were killed by their partner or ex-partner in Scotland raising questions about the safeguarding of vulnerable women.
The Women’s Rights Network says almost 200 women have been killed by men in Scotland over the last 16 years.
Last month a man charged with murdering his former partner was found dead at HMP Edinburgh.
Lee Greenan, 46, was accused of killing Vikki Soloman at a house in Craigievar Square in the Edinburgh’s East Craigs area days before.
Vikki, 44, was found with serious injuries at the property in and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stacy Mair, 35, was murdered last month in the Renfrewshire village of Houston. Her husband, Jim Mair, 43, who had been charged with assaulting her just weeks before her death, was also found dead at the property.
On Friday, the High Court in Dundee was told Samantha Lee’s body was found in the kitchen of the property in Bedford Road, Aberdeen on January 4. She was last seen on January 1.
Lord Renucci said: “Domestic abuse is a scourge on our society, and it is difficult to imagine a worse example than that exhibited by you towards Ms Lee.”
Tony Lenehan KC, representing Greer, said the 40-year-old had a toxic relationship with alcohol and suffered low mood and felt he was losing control of his life.
Laura Buchan, legal director at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Samantha’s death is a stark reminder of the devastating impact violence against women and girls can have.
“Scotland’s prosecutors will continue to use every legal tool available to hold those responsible for domestic abuse to account.”
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