A man has been jailed for coercive and controlling behaviour after his former partner was left with a devastating brain injury requiring round-the-clock care.
John Gizzi, 55, from St Asaph, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on Thursday to four years in prison for coercive and controlling behaviour. He received a further 11 months for the intentional strangulation of Natasha Farah's sister, Samantha.
Natasha "Tasha" Farah, 31, from Old Colwyn, North Wales, was discovered by her then partner hanging at her home in April. While there is no evidence Gizzi was directly responsible for her injuries, he was found culpable for what a judge described as the "worst case" of domestic and psychological violence he had ever witnessed.
Family describes devastating impact
During an emotionally charged hearing, Tasha's mother Denise Farah told the court how the family have been "robbed of something so very special." She described her daughter as "the kindest soul in the world" and spoke of the bond between Tasha and her nine-year-old son Roman, who says "My mum is perfect."
Denise told the court that Roman now suffers from severe night terrors and visits his mother in hospital, where she is not talking or moving. "All he wants is his mum to hug him and say his name. It's something he should not have to go through," she said.
Denise's sons, Joseph and Jacob, have also been devastated by their sister's suffering. Joseph told the court that Tasha smiles when they talk about Roman and that she is "still there," but "everyday moments are shrouded in sadness and uncertainty." He added: "John Gizzi may get an end date (for his sentence). But there is no end date for the suffering my family has gone through."
Sister's testimony and family's fight for justice
Samantha, who was rammed by a car driven by Gizzi when she was with her sister, told the hearing: "I've swum in the Atlantic, visited Colombian jungles and jumped out of a plane at 14,000ft (but) I've never experienced anything like that that night. He is a dangerous monster." She added: "Give me back my sister!"
Tasha's father Sammire Farah described his daughter as "a kind (and) strong girl and has always been there for the underdog." He said: "Tasha is severely brain damaged - trapped in her own body. I see a sad desperately frightened little girl. She cries real tears but can never make a sound."
Denise believes Gizzi's sentence was too lenient, saying he will actually serve two and a half years. "It's shocking. This is not justice. This doesn't give anyone hope," she said, adding that she wants a "Tasha's Law" so that perpetrators of domestic abuse face a "long, long stretch in prison."
Police commitment to tackling violence against women
Detective Constable Rebecca Donaghy, of North Wales Police, said: "Violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour, remains an absolute priority for North Wales Police. We are committed to identifying perpetrators, protecting victims and pursuing offenders through the criminal justice system."
Supporters gathered on the steps of the courthouse to rally behind the family and demand an end to domestic violence against women.
