Woman’s death in Surrey sheds light on bigger conversation around domestic abuse: advocate
Posted October 21, 2020 12:16 pm.
Last Updated October 21, 2020 3:33 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A homicide in Surrey Tuesday night is shedding light on the bigger conversation around domestic abuse, according to one local advocate.
Angela Marie MacDougall with Battered Women’s Support Services is calling on various levels of governments to fund services so potential victims have a place to turn.
“Charity-based organizations that specialize in domestic violence, and gender-based violence, and violence against women do save lives. We know that for a fact. There is evidence that points to that,” she says.
Related article: Woman dead in Surrey stabbing that also left child, man seriously hurt
She feels more provincial and federal money to help victims is badly needed, adding people need to know the services are available, that they’re well-funded, and that women have someone to turn to.
“We know that women are safer when they have contact with community organizations and women’s organizations,” MacDougall says.
“Domestic homicides is one of the realities of gender-based violence and violence against women, and the way in which men exert what is the most extreme example of power and control, and we know that power and control is at the heart of domestic violence, at the heart of intimate partner violence.”
Officers were called to a townhouse complex in the Newton area just before 9 p.m. for what the RCMP is now describing as an “incident of family violence.” Three people, including the woman, a two-year-old, and a man were hurt, while another man was arrested.
"The question on everyone's mind is why did this happen. That is also a top-of-mind priority for us as we work this morning to piece together what was said and done in that home last night." -Sgt Frank Jang, IHIT
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) October 21, 2020
MacDougall says, unfortunately, it’s common for children to be injured in domestic violence cases.
“For every woman and child that is killed or injured, there are thousands more that are living in fear.”
Mounties have not revealed a motive for Tuesday night’s stabbing in Surrey. The woman suffered critical injuries and died at hospital.
-With files from Monika Gul