When we were at school together, Kevin Ashdown was a sweet boy who protected me from bullies. Today he is in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend
My brother- and sister-in-law both had Perthes disease and spent a long time in hospital and with their pelvis and legs in plaster. But both had a different, loving, family background from this chap and didn’t suffer from the violence and poor upbringing that he did. It was still his actions that caused her death but children need to be well loved and properly cared for if we don’t want more to grow up to be murderers. Thanks for your article and thoughtfulness.
What a sad story and you tell it with such compassion. I truly believe that 'while there's life there's hope' and that even the most traumatic events can with the right help be dealt with. There are a lot of body-oriented therapies which are of tremendous help. Of course the person has to want it, but to do that they need to know it's possible.
It seems a spiral - his stepfather may well have had a childhood of violence, which he repeated/ inflicted on his stepson - who in turn beat to the death his on-off girlfriend (who may have become expectant or inured to it due to a violent upbringing herself). How to stop violence?
I had a violence-free childhood, with loving parents. It is hard to understand - as a recipient of that upbringing - why that can't be the case for everyone.
What a terribly sad story, told with compassion.
My brother- and sister-in-law both had Perthes disease and spent a long time in hospital and with their pelvis and legs in plaster. But both had a different, loving, family background from this chap and didn’t suffer from the violence and poor upbringing that he did. It was still his actions that caused her death but children need to be well loved and properly cared for if we don’t want more to grow up to be murderers. Thanks for your article and thoughtfulness.
A terrible story Julie. You really take life on at the coal face. Heart goes out to all involved.
What a sad story and you tell it with such compassion. I truly believe that 'while there's life there's hope' and that even the most traumatic events can with the right help be dealt with. There are a lot of body-oriented therapies which are of tremendous help. Of course the person has to want it, but to do that they need to know it's possible.
Remember this piece well - so much compassion and understanding here.
It seems a spiral - his stepfather may well have had a childhood of violence, which he repeated/ inflicted on his stepson - who in turn beat to the death his on-off girlfriend (who may have become expectant or inured to it due to a violent upbringing herself). How to stop violence?
I had a violence-free childhood, with loving parents. It is hard to understand - as a recipient of that upbringing - why that can't be the case for everyone.