Review into the death of Adult K

Published January 2024.

Summary

The death of a woman in her early 50s. The perpetrator, her adult son, was found guilty of manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

Issues identified

• Adult K’s experiences of domestic abuse included coercive control and economic abuse.
• Adult child-to-parent abuse (CPA) is less understood than domestic abuse in intimate relationships.
• The perpetrator experienced problems with mental health, substance misuse and gambling.

Lessons learned

• The focus was often on Adult K to manage the risk and keep herself safe. The review found that agencies must do more to reinforce measures against perpetrators. This includes continuing to assess risk, particularly when new information comes to light.
• Professionals need more training on CPA and unconscious bias about familial relationships.
• Professionals need support to understand economic abuse as a type of coercive control.

Actions we are taking

• Raising awareness of economic abuse as a type of coercive control. 
• Raising public awareness about CPA and the support offered by domestic abuse services.
• Supporting professionals with training, guidance and supervision around responding to CPA.

Front line staff and managers can read the key learning from the review.

Overview report

DHR Adult K overview report is on the Home Office Domestic Homicide Review Library.