When a man who seemed like a ‘nice guy’ murders three women in cold blood, what can we expect from the men who don’t seem like nice guys?

Following the outrage that erupted after the murder of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt on 9 July, is it any surprise that the authorities overlooked the warning signs? The rhetoric surrounding the killer’s personality highlighted how he ‘always seemed pretty normal’ and like a ‘nice guy’; “He never seemed odd or aggressive.” (Sky News) Yet here we are discussing how the red flags were missed by those who are meant to protect. 

All over the country there are cases that mirror this, with domestic abuse and femicide rearing its ugly head to remind women that we are never really safe.

In 2018 St Leonards was host to a similar case: the murder of Michelle Savage and Heather Whitbread, who were gunned down by Craig Savage after Michelle ended their marriage. The murderer also shot the family dog while Michelle’s grandmother and sister, who was seven-months pregnant at the time, hid from the perpetrator; she eventually alerted the police and escaped physically unharmed. Another, perhaps even more disturbing, parallel is the fact that both Craig and Kyle have military backgrounds, though the British Armed Forces don’t publish information about domestic abuse or IPVA (intimate partner violence and abuse). 

Every time an event such as this takes place, we are reminded that the threat of being killed increases when women try to leave DV relationships. But what can we do if the police are taking no notice? 

As a town, Hastings has a strange culture of overlooking people’s pasts. But does this voluntary ignorance put women at increased risk? A female friend recently disclosed the details of a horrifically abusive relationship with a man who has been known to be aggressive for many years. This abuser’s violence hospitalised the woman for three days, with injuries which needed 11 stitches, as well as injuries to her internal organs. 

Yet, a few weeks after this, his photo appeared on another woman’s Instagram, pint in hand, watching the quarter finals of the Euros. Weeks later, over Pirate Weekend, I saw him out drinking, and I couldn’t help feeling concerned over the risk he posed to other women. This is a risk that inevitably increases with alcohol consumption, not to mention how his presence alone undoubtedly made his victim feel unsafe – effectively excluding her from such celebrations.

When someone is causing this much of a threat to innocent people in society, why does it take the authorities so long to take action? If no one is following up the questionable behaviours of ‘nice guys’, then why are we not safeguarding women from men who are known for their violent and abusive behaviour? 

RIP all those who have been murdered by partners in DV relationships.