London, UK — In a poignant protest against what they see as lenient sentences for domestic homicides, the advocacy group Killed Women has initiated a memorial campaign. They installed seven blue and black plaques on homes across the UK where women were fatally assaulted by men, aiming to draw attention to the disparities in sentencing for domestic killings.
Each plaque bears the name of a victim, the dates of her birth and death, the phrase “killed here,” and the sentence received by the perpetrator, along with a call to action: “Murder is murder, change the law.” This stark message underlines the group’s plea for legislative reform to address sentencing laws that they argue undervalue the lives of women killed at home.
The campaign emerged from a troubling statistic that men who kill women indoors typically receive sentences about 10 years shorter than those who commit similar crimes outside. Killed Women, formed by families who have lost female relatives to such violence, is escalating their efforts by bringing this issue to the doorstep of the UK Parliament.
Scheduled this Tuesday, representatives from the organization will meet with Members of Parliament, including Caroline Nokes, Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones, and Jodie Gosling, to discuss these disparities and push for change. They are urging lawmakers, including Labour leader Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, to prioritize this issue as parliamentary sessions resume.
The initiative was partly spurred by a government review led by Clare Wade KC, which confirmed the need for increased sentencing for domestic murders, proposing a starting tariff of 25 years. This proposal has been included in the Conservative Party’s 2024 election manifesto, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the issue.
Behind the campaign are Julie Devey and Carole Gould, mothers driven by the devastating murders of their daughters by ex-partners. Among the women commemorated by the plaques are their daughters, Poppy Devey Waterhouse and Ellie Gould, alongside Julie Butcher, Elinor O’Brien, Jan Mustafa, Megan Newborough, and Claire Tavener. Each story uniquely tragic, these names represent just a fraction of the broader, grim pattern of domestic fatalities.
Julie Devey expressed the core of their grievance and hope: “The sentencing for women murdered in their homes by someone they trusted shows a distressing devaluation of their lives. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about ensuring justice reflects the severity and context of the crime.”
The group asserts that beyond honoring victims, changing the law could offer solace to future families affected by similar tragedies, ensuring that the loss of their loved ones is met with appropriate judicial seriousness.
As the plaques are set to be eventually given to the victims’ families, they currently serve as a temporary but powerful reminder of lives cut short and a system’s failure to adequately condemn their abrupt ends. Killed Women hopes that this visual and public declaration will catalyze legislative action, transforming their personal losses into a protective legacy for future potential victims.