A woman who suffered domestic abuse at the hands of her partner was “unlawfully killed” when she took her own life, a coroner has ruled.
Georgia Barter, 32, took an overdose of painkillers and died in April 2020 after being in a “long-term abusive relationship” with her partner.
In a rare move, the coroner, Dr Shirley Radcliffe, recorded Ms Barter’s death as an unlawful killing, placing the blame on her partner by finding she “died as a result of domestic abuse”.
The inquest at East London coroner’s court in Walthamstow heard Ms Barter had been the victim of financial and coercive control as well as violence.
Lawyers for Ms Barter’s family said it is believed to be just the second time that such a verdict has been returned by a coroner.
In a report aimed at preventing future similar deaths, Dr Radcliffe said: “Georgia Barter was in a long-term abusive relationship and during that time came to the attention of a number of police forces across southern England where there were allegations of domestic abuse.
“Following an assault by her partner on April 5, 2020 she undertook an act of self-harm which resulted in her death on the April 26, 2020.”
Dr Radcliffe said in her report that there are “rising numbers of domestic violence cases in this country”, and called for police and Home Office action to better protect women in abusive relationships.
Lawyers for Ms Barter’s family, DPG Law, said the inquest had highlighted “missed opportunities” to intervene to help her when she was still alive.
The victim’s mother, Kay Barter, told The Guardian there were “many, many times throughout the relationship where I noticed he had marked Georgia”, adding that that she once resembled “a victim of a road traffic accident”.
In a statement after the inquest, she said: “This ruling won’t change anything for my family and I, and it won’t bring my beautiful daughter back.
“Nothing will ever put this heartbroken mother back together again.
“My darling Georgia was a beautiful, kind soul whose generosity touched everyone around her. It took Georgia a very long time to ask for help because she felt judged and ashamed.
“In the end, Georgia did reach out for help but the support wasn’t there for her.
“All I want now is to shine a light on the epidemic of domestic abuse which is killing women.
“I say to the powers that be now is the time for change.”
In her report, Dr Radcliffe spelled out areas that she thought could be improved.
“The concern I have is that there is difficult for front line officers in police forces across the country to easily access the police national database (PND) to check on individuals who are suspected of domestic abuse.
“They are unable to easily identify if the individual has a history of reported domestic abuse in areas outside that forces’ borders.
“This would allow police to be more proactive in their dealings with victims of domestic violence.”
She added that some forces are understood to have begun improving information sharing techniques, but other forces “continue to have limited access for front line police officers to the PND”.
“This is on a background of rising numbers of domestic violence cases in this country. It accounts for 20 per cent of all crime in Essex.
“I have been informed there is a plan to undertake a technological overhaul in the Home Office and I would consider this matter something that should be brought to your attention to prevent future deaths.”
The family’s lawyers said both Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police have “accepted that more needs to be done to take positive action on domestic abuse”.
Solicitor for the family, Clare Hayes, said: “The coroner’s finding of unlawful killing vindicates Georgia’s mother’s fight for justice on behalf of Georgia and makes it a matter of public record that Georgia died as a result of domestic abuse.
“We have heard tragic evidence about the horrifying abuse that Georgia suffered over many, many years and the barriers to escaping a coercive and controlling relationship.
“This inquest has revealed evidence about the role of domestic abuse and importantly coercion and control in Georgia’s death that has much wider significance for how the state understands gender-based violence.
“It has also revealed that some of the agencies involved have made potentially far-reaching changes.
“This is testament to the tireless efforts of Georgia’s mother in seeking accountability and change following Georgia’s death.
“We hope that agencies will continue to work to ensure that on a very practical level steps are taken so that police officers and clinicians exercise professional curiosity when working with victims and survivors of abuse, to piece together a fuller picture and take available steps to prevent further abuse.”
The coroner’s report has been sent to the Home Secretary, with a request for a formal response by the end of next month.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk
