A coroner has ruled that a woman who died after taking a fatal overdose was unlawfully killed by her abusive partner. Georgia Barter, 32, died in hospital on 26 April 2020 following years of domestic abuse and coercive control by Thomas Bignell. The verdict, delivered at East London coroner's court, is believed to be only the second time in English legal history that a coroner has reached such a conclusion in a case of suicide following domestic abuse, and the first without a jury.
The inquest heard that GPs, nurses and police officers all had chances to intervene in Bignell's violent campaign against Georgia but failed to do so. The coroner said she could not be certain whether Georgia intended to take her own life; she had told her mother she just wanted the "physical and mental pain to stop". Georgia's family have called on the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider its decision not to charge Bignell, who did not attend the inquest and has not been found by police.
Georgia's mother, Kay Barter, described her daughter as "very loving, very kind, and caring", with an "amazing halo of golden curls" that she hated and everyone loved. A talented dancer who dreamed of performing professionally, Georgia worked in recruitment and was generous to a fault, unknowingly donating to multiple charities each month. Her mother said she was "so funny" and an amazing mimic who could have been a standup comedian.
Georgia was sexually assaulted at the age of 19, an attack that led to diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. She later began an 11-year on-off relationship with Bignell, then known as Ryan Johnson, during which she was subjected to domestic abuse and coercive control. Her mother told the court she often noticed he had marked Georgia, and that on one occasion her daughter "looked like a victim of a road traffic accident". Bignell controlled her financially, forcing her to move home, quit jobs and depriving her of food, hot water and electricity.
The court also heard from a paramedic that Georgia told him Bignell had kicked her and stamped on her face, with injuries consistent with her account. The coroner's conclusion of unlawful killing has prompted calls for the CPS to reconsider bringing charges. Georgia's family want justice, but Bignell remains missing after police failed to locate him under a warrant.
