As news reports of the High School shooting in Florida hit my computer screen I felt my heartbeat quicken and my mouth go dry. The students’ screams of terror were like a punch to my stomach leaving me winded and crying. This is a common response if you’re a homicide-loss mother. Parents of murdered children […]
Anniversaries I Never Even Knew Existed
The 26th March 2018 will mark the first anniversary of the start of the trial. On that day a year ago, I drove myself and my family to the Courthouse, parked the car and nervously walked up the steps to the entrance under the watchful gaze of lawyers, officials, and the public. I’ve tried not […]
A Four-Part Article on Homicide Loss — Part 1 The challenges faced by homicide loss families
I am a co-victim of homicide, a murder survivor. Some refer to me as the mother of the boy who was killed. At times, it feels as if I don’t even have a name, such is the stigma surrounding homicide. Whatever the term, the fact is that my wonderful, funny, bright, handsome 23-year-old son was […]
Part II Homicide Series — Murder As Entertainment And The Psychology of Fear
In this the second article in the series on homicide loss I look at the challenges faced by co-victims in dealing with society’s response to their loss. Our society is fascinated by crime. Murder sells, violence sells, drama sells. Photos and films repeatedly glamourize the action and thrill of police and detective stories, as well […]
Part III Homicide Loss Series — Crisis, Trauma and the Justice System
This, the third article of the four-part series on homicide loss explores in more detail the difficulties faced by co-victims and how those in their community can help them. The first area of focus — support during the legal process — deals with the justice system and how it affects homicide survivors. In the second […]
When Normal Ceased to Exist
Sudden, violent, brutal death. Out of nowhere, in an instant, the life you knew lies smashed at your feet, shattered into in a million pieces. Glass splinters thrown in each and every direction. However hard you try, you will never find all the pieces to put that old life together again. A new phantom world […]