The Daily Telegraph reported that 61 year old George Geoffrey Hicks, who detained his partner in his car against her will, threatened to kill her, threatened her job, monitored her phone and bugged her car was convicted on a number of domestic violence offences.
The magistrate found his domestic violence was “at the higher end of offending” and told Hicks that “The level of attempted controlling behaviour is one of the worst I have ever seen. You don’t have the right to behave in this fashion.”
Despite this, the Tele chose to make the victim the subject of the headline and the first paragraph of the story, implicitly excusing his choice to commit crimes by reporting her choice to be unfaithful. She is responsible for her choices but her behaviour was not criminal. Hicks is also responsible for his choices and his behaviour was criminal. The only fact about her relevant to a headline is that she was the victim of serious crimes and deserves sympathy and support.
Victims of crimes are never responsible for the crimes committed against them. There is only one thing that causes violence and that is the choice to be violent.
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
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