Bethany (aged 26) and her son Darren, better known as DJ (aged 9) were both murdered at their family home by Bethany’s former partner in the May of 2021 following a period of physical and psychological abuse. The perpetrator had a history of violence, including a conviction for domestic assault on a former partner. This episode looks at the findings from the joint Domestic Homicide Review and Child Safeguarding Practice Review published by Safer Lincolnshire Partnership and Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Learning themes include:

-The importance of recognising domestic abuse harm to children

-Understanding of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (also known as Clare’s Law) 

- Power and control dynamics of domestic abuse

-Understanding separation as a risk factor and the link to Dr Jane Monkton Smith’s ‘8 Step Timeline in Domestic Homicide’

- Supporting non-abusive parents and challenging abuse parents

- The importance of taking threats seriously