Throughout 2024, the Guardian aims to report on every woman allegedly killed by a man, drawing on the work of campaigns such as Counting Dead Women, the Femicide Census and Killed Women.
In recent years, a woman has been killed by a man every three days in the UK on average, and yet most of their stories have gone unheard. The Guardian wants to help change that.
Christine Bauld
Died 3 March, aged 55
To residents of the village of Burbage in Leicestershire, Christine Bauld, known as Tina, was a familiar and friendly face. “The most smiley, loveliest woman that you could wish to meet,” according to one neighbour.
So when on Sunday morning police responded to reports of an incident, which would result in Bauld becoming the 12th woman in the UK this year alleged to have been killed by a man, the news stunned the village’s small community. “I couldn’t believe it. It was absolutely horrible,” one resident said.
Those who knew her describe Bauld as a force of positivity, “always smiling, always upbeat, her glass was always full to the top. The life and soul if you went out. She was absolutely lovely”.
She was 55 when she was found dead. Gregor Bauld, 22, was charged with murder and possession of a bladed article. A trial date has been set for September. He has denied the crime.
Paramjit Gosal-Gill
Died 23 February, aged 40
“Those who had the pleasure of knowing Pam would know what a warm, loving, caring and funny personality she was,” said a statement issued by the family of Paramjit Gosal-Gill, known as Pam to her family, who was found dead at a house in Buckinghamshire.
Her life was “short but meaningful in so many ways to so many people”, it continued. “We are all devastated she has been taken from us so soon and she will be deeply missed.”
Thames Valley police were called to Seeleys Road in Beaconsfield just after 6am on 23 February, where Pam was pronounced dead at the scene. Paul Gill, 39, has since been charged with one count of murder and is due to appear at Reading crown court on 5 April.
Sam Varley
Died 12 February, aged 44
Sam Varley was a character. The 44-year-old from Leeds loved music, and made it known. Becky Joyce from the Leeds-based Homeless Street Angels charity, which supported Varley, told the BBC: “When I used to take her to appointments we used to have CDs on, she used to make me put the radio on really loud.”
Varley’s life was cut short when she was found dead at a house in Brown Hill Terrace, Harehills, Leeds on 12 February. West Yorkshire police said a 54-year-old man, Warren Spence, had been charged with murder.
“She will be very missed by the whole community, she was such a light within the community and everybody loved her … Everybody has nice words to say about her,” Joyce said.
Claire Leveque
Died 11 February, aged 24
Canadian Claire Leveque had moved to a remote Scottish island to satisfy her love of adventure, to “do the things that she loved doing” and be “friendly to everybody she met”, her father said.
But the 24-year-old got little opportunity to live the new life she wanted. Just months after arriving on Shetland she was found dead at a property in the island’s Sandness area.
Police were called to reports of a disturbance on Sunday 11 February. A 39-year-old man, Aren Pearson, was later charged with murder.
Her father paid tribute to her “happy, positive” character, recalling: “My daughter texted me every night: ‘I love you Dad’. Every night of her life.”
Each of these women deserves to be remembered by name and as more than just another statistic.
Karen Ingala Smith, co-founder of the Femicide Census and ambassador of nia, working to end violence against women and girls
Michele Romano
Died 9 February, aged 68
Michele Romano’s Facebook page shows a woman still living life to its fullest: clinking kir royals in restaurants and seeking out 1980s glam rock tribute bands. At 68, she is believed to have worked as a carer and in a charity shop.
Romano had previously fundraised for South East and Central Essex Mind, a charity whose mission she said “means a lot to me”.
In early February, she was found seriously injured by police officers responding to reports from neighbours. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her son, Sebastian Compton, 47, was subsequently charged with her murder. Compton’s plea hearing at Chelmsford crown court was postponed on grounds of mental health.
Claudia Kambanza
Died 26 January, aged 22
Claudia Kambanza’s family said her sudden death had torn their hearts apart. Aged 22, Kambanza was said to be “kind and bubbly” and “a very strong young woman who was warm-hearted”.
The second born of three siblings, she was an “accommodative spirit” who loved to dance. A TikTok account shows Kambaza enjoying rides at the funfair or playing pranks on people.
She was stabbed on Hinderwell Street in Hull on 26 January at about 3am and died shortly after being taken to hospital. Mateus Johannes, 28 and believed to be her boyfriend, was charged with her murder and the possession of a bladed article in a public space.
Kambanza’s family has created a GoFundMe page to repatriate her body back to Namibia, where she was originally from. “Her sudden death has torn her parents’ heart apart,” it says.
Tara Kershaw
Died 20 January, aged 33
Tara Kershaw was loved by many: her two young daughters, her siblings and their children, her parents and many members of her wider community.
Her family described her as a “loving and kind soul”, someone who “had a face that was well known all over”. That’s why they “struggl[ed] to come to terms” with the fact that she could die in her own home in Great Yarmouth, aged 33, of injuries consistent with compression to the neck, by someone that police thought she had known.
A man who lived at the same address, Adam Barnard, 40, has been charged with her murder. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has announced it is investigating Norfolk police’s “conduct, action and decision making” after it emerged the force had previous contact with Kershaw.
Kanticha Sukpengpanao
Died 19 January, aged 36
Kanticha Sukpengpanao’s love for her nieces was such that she had travelled from her home in Thailand to Norfolk to visit them. It was while on this trip that she would be found dead alongside the children she had come to see.
The discovery of her body, alongside those of 12-year-old Jasmin Kuczynska and eight-year-old Natasha Kuczynska, and her brother-in-law, Bartlomiej Kuczynski, shocked those living in the town of Costessey, near Norwich.
Sukpengpanao has been described as a supportive friend and a loving aunt who will be missed by many. A friend told the Mirror: “Kanticha was very nice and caring to all friends of her … she helped everyone.”
Sukpengpanao and the children died of stab wounds. Kuczynski died of a single stab wound in his neck. Norfolk police have confirmed they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths. The force has referred itself to the police watchdog over reports Kuczynski made a 999 call from the property which officers were not dispatched to.
These are our daughters, mothers, sisters and loved ones; we won’t stop fighting for protection and justice for all women.
Killed Women, a campaign network for bereaved families.
Alison McLaughlin
Died 5 January, aged 53
For Alison McLaughlin, 2024 had got off to a happy start. The 53-year-old had become a grandparent to baby Alilynne. But three weeks later, she was found dead in her home in Greenock, Inverclyde, on 5 January.
McLaughin was found lying next to her dead husband, Neil McLaughlin, 57, after neighbours sounded the alarm.
Described by friends as a “lovely couple, always happy”, the picture circulating in news reports shows a well-groomed pair. Police are treating her death as murder and Neil McLaughlin’s as suicide.
DI Gordon Smith, of Police Scotland, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of both Alison and Neil. They have asked for privacy at what is a very difficult time for them.”
Maya Bracken
Died 4 January, aged 56
“Lovely” was the word that kept cropping up when people spoke about Mayawati – or Maya – Bracken, 56. A friend described her as “an amazing, quirky, hilarious woman who made everyone smile who met her. RIP to a beautiful lady.” Another added that she was “such a lovely lady”.
On 4 January, police were called to reports of an incident and found Bracken stabbed in the chest in a Lexus on the A340 Tidmarsh Road in Berkshire.
About an hour later there were reports of a second death. Julian Bracken, 18, believed to be her son, was found dead on the tracks near Pangbourne station. Thames Valley police said no further suspects were being sought.
Tia Simmonds
Died 3 January, aged 32
Tia Simmonds’ body was found in the storage area of a converted loft in her home, lying face down covered in items of clothing and bedding, according to the prosecutor working on her case.
The 32-year-old was discovered at the home she shared with her husband, Shane Simmonds, in Lewisham, south-east London, on 3 January.
Simmonds, 38, was charged with his wife’s murder the following day. He was also charged with two counts of rape in relation to a teenage girl and has since been remanded in custody, with a trial date set for 14 October.
Keotshepile Naso Isaacs
Died 1 January, aged 33
Keotshepile Naso Isaacs, known as Naso, arrived in the UK a year ago from Otse, a village in south-east Botswana, with the dream of building a new life for her and her three sons.
On New Year’s Day, those dreams were destroyed when she was found dead, aged 33, at a property in the Scottish seaside town of North Berwick. Her husband, Mompati Dodo Isaacs, 37, was charged with her murder.
Neighbours, who had made a “report of concern” to the police, described Naso as “a loving mum to her boys, who must be absolutely devastated”. Friends on social media paid tribute to a “beautiful soul”.
In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit the Killed Women website for details of other support agencies. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
