It is often a combination of fear and shame that keeps victims of domestic violence from getting away from their partners. Fear that they will follow through with the threat of killing them if they try to leave, and shame of having people know what they are going through.
Sarah’s family knew that her husband was violent towards her, but still they couldn’t keep her from going back to him time and time again. Because of her inability to escape, she ended up brutally murdered, leaving behind five young children who only know that “Daddy killed Mummy.”
Reporter Rod Vaughan investigates this horrific death and meets Kiwi women who are brave enough to talk openly about their disturbingly violent partners.