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Landmark: the death of Kellie Sutton
The Slow Newscast • S1, Episode 214
Landmark: the death of Kellie Sutton
Three years ago, reporter Louise Tickle started a Tortoise investigation into hidden homicides, looking into the sudden or unexpected deaths of women who were being domestically abused. These kinds of deaths often go un-investigated by police, but after campaigns by families, some had, years later, been found to be killings.
During that investigation, I was told about another kind of hidden domestic abuse death – women who take their own lives in the context of devastating abuse. Solicitor Sophie Naftalin told me about the case of Kellie Sutton, whose abuser had been jailed for coercive control and assault after she died. But he was never held responsible for her death. Kellie’s family had just succeeded in getting her first inquest quashed: they didn’t think the coroner was right to say she died by suicide; they believed Kellie had been unlawfully killed.
I've followed Kellie Sutton's case ever since. I've attended pre-inquest review hearings, spoken with Kellie's family and shadowed Sophie Naftalin, and finally travelled to Hatfield at the end of June for the inquest itself, listening to evidence over nearly two weeks – to find out if an inquest jury would accept that someone who took her own life was actually killed.
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Writer and journalist Liv Little and Observer critic Miranda Sawyer get notes from editors all the time – now it’s their turn to hand them out. Every Wednesday morning, Liv and Miranda weigh in on the latest cultural happenings, from reality TV meltdowns and art house films, to gallery openings and TikTok trends. Smart, funny, and full of sharp observations. We Have Notes is culture with commentary.
