Page 14 - Adult C Overview Report - FINAL

This document was classified as: OFFICIAL

7.9. This was not fully understood by agencies who reported that the case was ‘in MARAC’

indicating and believing that there was therefore a coordinated response. There have been
some significant deficiencies in the MARAC process noted locally by previous domestic
homicide reviews (DHRs) and recent inspection of the local police force. This has resulted in a
suite of materials and some changes to the MARAC process. This review will therefore not
repeat those recommendations but will ask that the impact of those changes is assessed.

7.10. There were several issues that were not successfully addressed as part of a response to the
safety of Adult C. One of these was housing. Adult C relied on others for her housing needs.
She lived with Adult 1, stayed with friends who appeared to be her drinking friends and on
one occasion was bailed to her ex father in law’s house who had previously physically

assaulted her.

7.11. The housing issues caused consternation within the review. Adult C was very close to getting
a property of her own, supported by DA2. This failed for the reasons identified in section 5.
There was a further referral for supported living for vulnerable women, but Adult C died
before this could be progressed. DA1 and DA2 had always discussed several options for
housing with Adult C but she always declined what was offered. Whilst resolving housing
issues may have helped Adult C to be able to leave Adult 1 or at least give her some space
when she needed to get away from Adult 1 it was acknowledged within the review that there
was a strong co-dependency between Adult C and Adult 1.

7.12. Adult C was ambivalent to her housing issues on occasion but had expressed a fear of living
on her own in case she had a seizure with no one there to look after her. It does not appear
that Adult C’s stated fear of being on her own equated to relevant thoughts by professionals

about the impact this may have had on her ability to live on her own.

7.13. There were attempts made to encourage Adult C to move away from the area, making a clean
break and starting again in a new area. Whilst this may have had some benefits, it also means
that her support network of professionals who knew her would be lost and it is not always in
the victim’s best interests to move away.

7.14. The issue of the bail address not being a necessarily safe one came about because it was
court bail and not police bail. The process for these is undertaken very quickly at magistrates’
court the day after arrest and there is not enough time to identify any issues related to this. It
is the detainee that is asked to provide a suitable bail address. There was discussion during

the review related to this but there was felt to be no resolution available for these types of
circumstances.

7.15. There was a discussion during the review regarding Adult C being seen as a perpetrator. At
the time, this did not receive an oversight as to whether this was the best option and route to
follow. There was information available that this was not the truth and that Adult C had been
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