Families of domestic abuse victims who died by suicide have criticised coroner’s courts in England for an inconsistent approach to considering how abuse may have contributed to their deaths. Campaigners say it is down to individual coroners to decide what evidence is heard, leading to a ‘postcode lottery’.
In many cases, there is no criminal trial, so the inquest is the only formal opportunity for abuse allegations to be examined. However, coroners may restrict the scope to the immediate period before death, ignoring years of coercive control. There is no appeals process except costly judicial review, which many families cannot afford emotionally or financially.
Helen Boniface, a lawyer at Hogan Lovells, described the situation as “incredibly frustrating” and a “postcode lottery”. Pragna Patel of Project Resist said there is “no coordinated attempt” to ensure consistent responses to cases involving domestic abuse. Frank Mullane of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse noted that some coroners “get it right” but others show “ignorance of the cumulative nature of domestic abuse”.
A landmark inquest last September found that Georgia Barter was unlawfully killed by her former partner Thomas Bignell after she took a fatal overdose. The coroner considered evidence from family, police, and medical professionals about years of abuse. Bignell has not been charged criminally. Campaigners urge police to treat such suicides as potential homicides and call for greater consistency in inquests.
