Natalie Connolly, 26, a mother of one, died in December 2016, of acute alcohol intoxication and blunt force injuries. John Broadhurst, 40, admitted to inflicting those injuries, but said they were meted out as part of what reports have called ‘rough sex’, and compared to scenes of 50 Shades of Grey.
Broadhurst hasn’t been found guilty of murder, or of GBH, but of manslaughter. Yes, Broadhurst beat her, but apparently only ‘within the bounds of her masochistic desires’. Yes, he inflicted a blow-out fracture to her left eye, and internal injuries via a bottle of carpet cleaner, but he was cleared, because this was all part of, we’re told to believe, consensual sex.
Labour MP Harriet Harman has now referred the case to the Attorney General, asking him to consider if this counts as an unduly lenient sentence. She tweeted:
‘He blames her for her own death, says she wanted is violence. She can’t give evidence as she’s dead. Men used to evade murder charge with “nagging & shagging” defense. The 21st century version is the “50 shades of grey” defense. Cannot be allowed to stand.’
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/domestic-violence-natalie-connolly-john-broadhurst-sentence-harriet-harman-attorney-general/
[category global, domestic violence, sexual violence]