What are the implications of ‘coercive control’ in the Bamber case?

[Nicholas]

What are the implications of ‘coercive control’ in the Bamber case?

Mark Newby recently retweeted on the Sally Challen case

Sally Challen was convicted of murdering her husband David

“During the two-day appeal hearing in February, the court heard evidence relating to Mrs Challen's state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of "coercive control".
Coercive control describes a pattern of behaviour by an abuser to harm, punish or frighten their victim and became a criminal offence in England and Wales in December 2015.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-47845450

[Nicholas]

White House Farm highlights the *other* crime taking place

“Jeremy Bamber was not involved in the making of White House Farm and he has branded it a disgrace. But in the series, which is "based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts", what we get is a portrait of coercive control.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a30712041/white-house-farm-tv-murders-julie-mugford/

Abby Robinson states in her article,

‘The relationship between Jeremy Bamber and Julie Mugford is a key concern, showcasing a crime of a different kind.

We first meet her at Colin's party, prior to the murders, but only from a distance.

She says little in the series' early stages, only really responding when spoken to, and her sole interest is Jeremy.

Julie appears timid, largely unwilling to interact with anyone who isn't her boyfriend, as if by speaking she will shatter into a thousand pieces. And as the drama gains momentum, their relationship, and its toxicity, becomes central to the story and is instrumental in shifting the course of the police investigation.

"I want to tell you what really happened that night at White House Farm," she tells DS Stan Jones and DC Mick Clark.

Julie's decision to break her silence is a seismic change of heart for a woman who barely left his side. Whatever he said or did to her, she would swallow her pride and her hurt in exchange for his love.

But even keeping his darkest secret wasn't enough to earn his devotion.

Jeremy Bamber was not involved in the making of White House Farm and he has branded it a disgrace. But in the series, which is "based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts", what we get is a portrait of coercive control

[Nicholas]

’When Brett Collins, who Jeremy met when travelling in Australia, first arrives, the pair can't keep their hands off one another while Julie stands there, like a spare part.

They repeatedly flirt with one another in front of her, as he does with Nancy at the Bamber's wake, Julie relegated to the sidelines and forced to watch, as she is whenever someone shiny and new comes along.

When Nancy calls Jeremy at Sheila's flat, she pleads with him to stop.

"Why would you do that?" she asks, her voice trembling.

"She loves the attention," he says to Nancy, labelling her a "nutcase".

Her sorrow is palpable, her anxiety acute. This is a storm that she has been forced to weather time and time again.

The only moments of tenderness Jeremy shows her are when he feels threatened – kindness masquerading as manipulation – passionately kissing her, telling her what she wants to hear: "You're my best friend. You're my only friend. I'm on your side. I need you on my side. You know that don't you?"

There are times when Julie desperately tries to seek out his better nature, traits that she can truly love, that don't frighten her.

Jeremy and Brett sell Nevill's medals to an antique dealer and for a second, Jeremy is seemingly unwilling to let them go, which heartens her. But the switch flicks, his sadness merely a trick designed to secure an extra £10.

And yet despite that, she consoles him and holds his hand.

When Jeremy barricades himself in the kitchen after an altercation with his cousin Ann, she tries to persuade him to open the door, like a mother to a sullen five-year-old who's been told he can't have any more sweets.

She is there for him, to protect, to hold, to soothe, and to lie for, at least until the final moments of episode four.

Speaking to Bradford Zone about Julie, the actor who plays her, Alexa Davies, said: "I believe she was head over heels in love with Jeremy. It is hard to understand at first why she didn't immediately go to the police if she knew what had really happened. It's hard for people to excuse that. But it's not as black and white as that.

"I believe a huge part of her not going to the police for so long was that she genuinely loved that man, wanted that life with him and always to be with him. Turning him in would obviously end that."

[APRIL]

I'm prepared to accept that their relationship was one of coercive control on Jeremy's part, and I think he probably picked her out because he knew he'd be able to. I imagine the reason she didn't recognize it as being such was because it wasn't her first experience of it.

[Nicholas]

I'm prepared to accept that their relationship was one of coercive control on Jeremy's part, and I think he probably picked her out because he knew he'd be able to. I imagine the reason she didn't recognize it as being such was because it wasn't her first experience of it.

Courtesy of Womens Aid


What is coercive control?

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

We campaigned and succeeded in making coercive control a criminal offence. This has marked a huge step forward in tackling domestic abuse. But now we want to make sure that everyone understands what it is.

Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that pervades all elements of a victim’s life. It works to limit their human rights by depriving them of their liberty and reducing their ability for action. Experts like Evan Stark liken coercive control to being taken hostage. As he says: “the victim becomes captive in an unreal world created by the abuser, entrapped in a world of confusion, contradiction and fear.”

How do you know if this is happening to you?

Some common examples of coercive behaviour are:

Isolating you from friends and family
Depriving you of basic needs, such as food
Monitoring your time
Monitoring you via online communication tools or spyware
Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep
Depriving you access to support services, such as medical services
Repeatedly putting you down, such as saying you’re worthless
Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you
Controlling your finances
Making threats or intimidating you

Read more here https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/coercive-control/

[G-Unit]

I would say coersive control was definitely used by June Bamber to get her daughter to do as she wanted. She attempted it with her son, but he was less affected.

[APRIL]

I would say coersive control was definitely used by June Bamber to get her daughter to do as she wanted. She attempted it with her son, but he was less affected.

Of course, none of the mothers who employ this, would ever use the word "coercive".It was their way of ensuring their child did as it was told.

[Caroline]

I would say coersive control was definitely used by June Bamber to get her daughter to do as she wanted. She attempted it with her son, but he was less affected.

Quite a few parents do that, it's not unique to adoptive parents.

[G-Unit]

The fact that many parents have used coercion to control their children doesn't make it right. It wasn't how June Bamber was brought up either according to her sister.

[APRIL]

The fact that many parents have used coercion to control their children doesn't make it right. It wasn't how June Bamber was brought up either according to her sister.

As each child is unique, the experiences of one child in a family may be quite different from other children in the same family. Each will have their own story, true for each of them, as they experienced it.

[Nicholas]

What are the implications of ‘coercive control’ in the Bamber case?

Mark Newby recently retweeted on the Sally Challen case

Sally Challen was convicted of murdering her husband David

“During the two-day appeal hearing in February, the court heard evidence relating to Mrs Challen's state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of "coercive control".
Coercive control describes a pattern of behaviour by an abuser to harm, punish or frighten their victim and became a criminal offence in England and Wales in December 2015.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-47845450

https://mobile.twitter.com/GardenCtCrime/status/1204037635972444162

[Caroline]

The fact that many parents have used coercion to control their children doesn't make it right. It wasn't how June Bamber was brought up either according to her sister.

This is someone else's family and they have many dynamics, I don't think. you or I or anyone have enough information or experience to make such sweeping statements about another family. People make the mistake in thinking that just because they have read the odd book, they know the Bamber's - you don't, I don't - many other never got the chance.

[Nicholas]

So what are the implications of ‘coercive control’ in the Bamber case?

How does it impact on his campaign ?

Where and how did his campaign start and who, other than JM, has Bamber coercively controlled?

[Nicholas]

Abby Robinson states in her article,

‘The relationship between Jeremy Bamber and Julie Mugford is a key concern, showcasing a crime of a different kind.

Jeremy Bamber was not involved in the making of White House Farm and he has branded it a disgrace. But in the series, which is "based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts", what we get is a portrait of coercive comtrol

Was it Trudi Benjamin’s idea to read a letter allegedly from Bamber at the graveside of 2 of his victims, record it and post it online - where it remains - or was coercive control behind it?

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsUyH-5t3S4

[G-Unit]

This is someone else's family and they have many dynamics, I don't think. you or I or anyone have enough information or experience to make such sweeping statements about another family. People make the mistake in thinking that just because they have read the odd book, they know the Bamber's - you don't, I don't - many other never got the chance.

I am going on what June's sister said. Her description of their parenting was very different to the description of theirs given by the Bamber children.