On April 30, 2012, hairdresser Natalie Esack was brutally murdered in her Kent excessive road salon on a Monday morning by her estranged husband.
Nearly precisely 10 years later, one other girl died in alarmingly related circumstances in Kent, discovered useless alongside her husband of their tattoo parlour, the sufferer of a suspected ‘murder-suicide’.
Whereas official conclusions haven’t been drawn from the tragic dying of Ramona Stoia in Canterbury earlier this month, home abuse charities have highlighted the case’s similarities with the tragic dying of Natalie Esack, who was stabbed to dying by husband Ivan in her Ashford salon.
Each incidents concerned the husbands of the victims – males who they as soon as beloved and trusted. Each occurred in broad daylight, in a spot the place the ladies ought to have been protected.
Each males have been additionally recognized to police as a result of surprising behaviour they confirmed in direction of their companions within the weeks and months main as much as their deaths.
Tracy Blackwell, director of strategic insights and partnerships at home abuse charity Refuge stated that the 2 incidents, whereas a decade aside, have been indicators of the “scale of intimate companion violence” within the UK.
“Refuge’s ideas are with the households and associates of Ramona and Natalie,” she added.
“Whether or not a number of months or a decade has handed, their loss will nonetheless be felt deeply by their family members.
“Present or former companions are liable for the deaths of two ladies per week in England and Wales. The size of intimate companion violence within the UK have to be taken critically.
“We can not merely stand by as ladies’s lives proceed to be misplaced to male violence.”
The story was remarkably just like the dying of Mrs Esack 10 years in the past, who was 33 when she was brutally stabbed to dying by her jealous husband Ivan in her high-street hair salon.
Esack, a former Maidstone police detective, plunged a kitchen knife into Natalie as much as 11 occasions as she desperately tried to flee right into a basement, in plain view of her 17-year-old hairdressing assistant. He was found guilty of murder in January 2013 and ordered to serve a minimal 28 years in jail.
An impartial overview of the authorities’ dealing with of the home violence main as much as the homicide flagged up a raft of considerations.
It stated police may have arrested Esack for sending “malicious communications” to Natalie; additionally they did not act on Natalie’s report that her estranged husband may hurt himself, or that he had been carrying a knife when he went to her handle in February.
There had been proof of an rising charge of home violence within the six months main as much as the deadly assault, the report revealed.
It stated that by the month earlier than the deadly stabbing at Esack Hair and Magnificence in Ashford Excessive Road, “there have been numerous danger components in (Esack’s) circumstances and behavior”, the report reveals.
“He took cocaine and drank closely, however there isn’t any proof that he was depending on these substances. He described himself as depressed and pressured,” it added.
Crucially, it was additionally alleged by a good friend {that a} month earlier than her dying, Esack had strangled his spouse till she misplaced consciousness.
Nevertheless, all that data was not collated, with completely different police and well being staff solely having a partial image of the very important months main as much as the terrifying assault on Natalie.
A counsellor, it was revealed, knew of the strangulation, however accepted Esack’s assurance he had notified police of the assault.
The report added: “Police investigations additionally revealed that a number of family and friends members had details about the escalating home abuse (Natalie) suffered over a few years, however no-one had the complete image.
“As soon as (Esack) realised that their marriage was over, he exerted his management over her for a last time by killing her.”
It was alleged that with the entire data collated, the Home Abuse Stalking and Harassment danger evaluation in March of that yr would have been graded excessive danger, and a multi-agency convention would have been held to plan a security plan for Natalie.
An inner investigation is ongoing by police into the circumstances round Ms Stoia’s dying, after it emerged that her husband Catalin Micu was on police bail after being interviewed over allegations he had raped his spouse a number of occasions all through their marriage.
In February, mum-of-one Ramona secured a non-molestation order – a courtroom injunction limiting or banning contact – in opposition to Micu.
It’s thought the couple, who share a younger son, continued to stay collectively, however Micu was banned from “harassing or pestering” her.
However on March 26, he was arrested on suspicion of getting breached this order, and of critically sexually assaulting his spouse.
Ramona got here ahead with a collection of historic allegations of rape in opposition to her husband, courting again all through their 16-year relationship however primarily happening in the previous few years.
There have been 5 separate allegations, all of which reportedly happened on the household residence.
Following his arrest, Micu was positioned on police bail till April 20, however below the bail circumstances he was nonetheless allowed to work alongside Ramona at GothInk Studio, of which he was the only director.
At about 5.20pm on Monday, April 11, two weeks after Michu was arrested, police discovered the pair useless on the studio. The power confirmed solely Ramona’s dying is being handled as suspicious, whereas detectives will not be in search of anybody else in reference to the tragedy.
An inquest opening yesterday heard that Catalin Micu died from a stab wound to the stomach after he had killed his spouse.
Kent Police referred itself to police watchdog the Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) following its contact with the couple previous to their deaths.
Nevertheless, IOPC selected to not launch a probe of its personal, as a substitute deciding to scrutinise the outcomes of the interior investigation by police.
A report revealed this week discovered that Kent Police’s response to home abuse was of specific concern as a part of companies that ‘require enchancment’.
It was discovered that home abuse investigation groups aren’t correctly resourced with certified employees.
The report stated: “Some victims have acquired an unacceptable stage of service and continued to stay in danger.
“Investigations are sometimes delayed or are of a poor high quality. This has brought about victims to disengage with the power and abusers to flee justice.”
In response to that report, the power’s Deputy Chief Constable Tim Smith stated that the power was already wanting into the considerations raised within the report and taking steps to enhance, particularly in the case of response occasions for home abuse victims.
He stated: “It is a delicate and complicated space of policing nevertheless we’re dedicated to persevering with to enhance our service to victims of home abuse who’re among the many most susceptible in our communities.”
For extra on the report, click here.
Ms Blackwell added: “Within the instances of Ramona and Natalie, abuse by their husbands was recognized to authorities and to others earlier than their deaths.
“Girls should really feel assured that they are going to be believed after they report abuse, and have to be assured that any breaches of protecting orders will probably be handled swiftly and successfully by the police.
“In case you are affected by home abuse, you aren’t alone.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Banks, Head of Defending Weak Individuals at Kent Police, stated: “Tackling home abuse is a precedence for Kent Police, and we attempt to supply the perfect service to victims and maintain offenders to account for his or her actions.
“Our officers have a relentless deal with guaranteeing susceptible persons are safeguarded and supported at each alternative, whether or not this be our devoted Home Abuse Investigators or the officers and employees whose position it’s elevate consciousness of the sorts of offences dedicated, working with victims, different businesses and help companies to cut back the danger of additional hurt, whether or not that be securing one in all numerous protecting orders accessible or discovering a spot to stay for these searching for refuge.
“We’ve proactive groups that focus on offenders, guaranteeing they really feel the burden of the legislation, for instance; imposing Home Violence Safety Orders or visiting them when they’re launched from jail.
“Along with this, the power is recognised nationally as being on the forefront in using Stalking Safety Orders. It is a delicate and complicated space of policing, nevertheless we’re dedicated to persevering with to enhance our service to victims of home abuse who’re among the many most susceptible in our communities.”
Natalie’s reminiscence is stored alive in Ashford city centre. Chelsea Ford, {the teenager} who witnessed the homicide, opened her personal salon in town’s North Road seven months later, calling it Nat’ural Hair in tribute to her former boss and shut good friend.
Chelsea stated on the time: “She taught me every little thing, not nearly hairdressing however about life too.”
The salon stays open and on its web site, Chelsea writes: “I made a decision to open a salon in reminiscence of Natalie, as I couldn’t consider working for anybody else, to hold her legacy on within the hair business and most significantly to create a protected setting for everybody however particularly ladies.
“I made one final promise to her, that any consumer who sat in my chair would really feel protected sufficient to dump any troubles or worries, to really feel snug to be themselves and depart feeling nearly as good about themselves as they give the impression of being.”
You possibly can entry free and confidential help from Refuge’s 24-hour Nationwide Home Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and digital help by way of stay chat Monday-Friday 3-10pm by clicking here.
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