[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Garfie

That’s a fact, Niamh. I do believe that the majority of women killed in DV situations die as a result of strangulation, and most women in these situations suffer non-fatal strangulation during such relationships, even when it does not end in death.

From memory, that’s why the law was changed a couple of years ago to make non-fatal strangulation an offence in itself, separate to any charges for DV. I think, at the time, a non-fatal strangulation conviction came with a custodial sentence, and I can remember this happened in the first case after the law was changed. I hope this is still the case, but I’m not sure if it remains so due to the lack of prison places.



However, in the same way that these charges and sentences are so important, I think it’s equally important that people are aware of the differences between grabbing, squeezing and placing the hands, and of whether those hands are around, or beside the neck.

Of course and I did acknowledge that he didn't actually grab her neck but he did say oh I can't do that and took his hand away quickly which was what I thought was a little sinister