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Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woman accused of murdering ex-partner on Christmas Day tells jury she is 'not a violent person'
A woman accused of murdering her ex-partner on Christmas Day has told a jury that she is 'not a violent person'. Kirsty Carless, 33, allegedly stabbed Louis Price in the heart in the early hours of December 25, 2024. The attack was said to be 'motivated by anger and jealousy and fuelled by cocaine and alcohol ' after a friend sent her a picture of his dating profile on Tinder, Stafford Crown Court heard. CCTV showed Carless 'stalking' Mr Price, 31, around the garden before he was later found with a single stab wound to the chest on the conservatory floor. The defendant has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to the fatal incident. She also denies one count of intentional strangulation and another of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to a separate incident on November 11, 2024. And in court on Tuesday, Carless insisted she has no recollection of knifing her former partner. Asked if she intended to kill Mr Price, she said: 'No, I'm not a violent person.' She added that she had no intention to cause him serious harm. Prosecutors allege Carless, of Haling Way in Cannock, Staffordshire, took a kitchen knife in a taxi from her home to Mr Price's parents' property in Elm Road, Norton Canes, where she expected to find him with a woman. The court was told Mr Price was considered by police to be 'at very high risk of domestic abuse' before his death that day. Carless told the jury that she had phoned him to see if he had taken money from inside a card she had in her home. He did not answer, so she got a taxi to his parents' address, adding that she brought a set of keys and phone with her, denying she had a knife about her person. Asked why she told the driver she would only be a minute, Carless said: 'Because I was going to get the money and come back.' She said she opened the front door and shouted but no one answered, then went upstairs, adding: 'I didn't care whether he was in bed with somebody else, I wasn't interested.' Carless added she was in the kitchen and there was 'no one about', then a light came on outside. She said: 'Louis was sat on the floor. Then I panicked and ran off.' Carless's defence barrister asked her why she picked up a knife, and she said she was going 'to go and destroy the caravan' because, as far as she was aware, he had taken the money. She said: The next thing I know I was stood by the breakfast bar...' and she added that Mr Price said, 'you've hurt me you stupid b***h'. 'He was coming back to his feet and I just panicked then.' Carless insisted that she does not recall chasing her ex around the garden at this point, but just remembers the 'fear' she felt that night. She does not recollect what she did with the knife but she remembers heading to her mother's house. The defendant she did not answer any questions when she was interviewed by police, she said she was advised by the legal team. Carless added that she now feels 'disgusted' about the matter. Later, Jonas Hankin KC, prosecuting, put to Carless that she was 'jealous and possessive' towards Mr Price, but she replied: 'No.' Mr Hankin added: 'And if he spoke to another woman, you would assault him.' Carless responded: 'No.' When Mr Hankin suggested she lost her temper when she saw the Tinder profile, she replied: 'No.' After he put to her that she 'couldn't bear to think of him with somebody else on Christmas Eve', Carless said: 'He already had another girlfriend.' Asked about another incident in November, she said she was throwing Mr Price's stuff down the stairs when he pinned her down and she was then pushing him off her. She claimed she did not assault her ex-partner that day, neither did she shout at him. The trial continues.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
New accommodation to support homeless women in York, charity says
A centre to support women who have experienced homelessness and other "unmet needs" including domestic abuse and exploitation has been established in Changing Lives said the women-only accommodation comprises of two properties, one with three bedrooms and the other with well as offering residents a safe space, they will also benefit from support in areas such as budgeting, education and housing, the charity Sunter, director of development, said mixed-gender accommodation facilities often "don't work for women", adding that some "don't feel safe" when using them. "We see a lot that women can be adversely affected by various issues from women's health, child removal, sexual exploitation, stigma," she said."Particularly in York, we see women leaving the criminal justice system and finding safe accommodation to move on to and not returning to old lifestyles can be problematic."She added that there was a "huge demand nationally" for gender specific accommodation. The properties are closely linked with the charity's existing women's wellness centre in York, enabling residents to access a GP running a women's clinic, therapeutic groups, recovery services and advice on benefits and tenancies."In mainstream services where there's mixed genders, women are often expected to attend to get the support they need, but within that, they end up bumping into old acquaintances and often the perpetrators of abuse," she service has been designed in collaboration with women who have used similar Sunter said it aimed to work with women to help them "find ways forward" and was not about making them "repeat their story" or judging them on it."It's about empowering the women as well, so not necessarily making decisions for people, but empowering them to make the best decision for them."Referrals to the accommodation can be made through City of York Council, the probation service, or individual women aged 18 or over who find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Ottawa police see 9% increase in intimate partner violence reports so far this year
The Ottawa Police Service says it has seen an increase in reports of intimate partner violence so far this year compared to the first half of 2024. Police told CTV News Ottawa it received a total of 3,580 intimate partner-related reports in the first six months of 2025 over 3,257 reports from January to June of 2024, amounting to a nine per cent increase. In a news release Monday, police said the most prevalent offences so far this year included, assault, breaches, harassing communications, assault with a weapon and uttering threats. The majority of victims identified as female (80.6 per cent) while 18.6 per cent identified as male. Fifty per cent of cases involved people between the ages of 30 and 45, police said. Just under five per cent of cases were younger than 18-years-old. Reports of intimate partner violence have consistently increased since 2021, police said last year. A total of 6,636 incidents resulted in 3,355 charges in all of 2024. In 2023, there were 6,547 incidents reported and 3,820 charges laid. 'If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, please know that help is available, and there are people who care and want to support you. No one deserves to be harmed, controlled, or made to feel afraid,' police said Monday. In January, police announced it would release both annual and semi-annual statistics on intimate partner violence as part of a wider plan to prioritize tackling gender-based violence and violence against women. This is the first semi-annual report it has released. The service hired 'risk navigators' in 2023 and 2024 to assist victims of intimate partner violence who contact police. Police also brought in a new police dog this year specially trained to support victims and provide emotional support. It became the first police force in the country to describe the killing of a woman or girl by a man as a femicide in 2024. So far this year, there have been four femicides in the city of Ottawa, exceeding last year's total. Intimate partner violence statistics so far this year: By age group: 4.8% were under 18 yrs old 29.3% were between the ages of 18 and 29 50% were between the ages of 30 and 45 12.4% were between the ages of 46 and 60 3.4% were over the age of 60 By gender: 80.6% identified as female 18.6% identified as male With files from CTV News Ottawa's Ted Raymond
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Talks in Gogrial West reveal need for awareness-raising on right to protection
Many residents of Gogrial West County are unaware of their fundamental right to be protected, often silently enduring violence, theft, or domestic abuse. Despite being a relatively peaceful part of Warrap State, people living here are sometimes subject to conflicts and their consequences, crime, risks related to climate change and, last but not least, the frequent incidents of domestic violence mostly suffered by women and girls. "They, like everyone else, have the right to live safely and with dignity," stated Bakhita Burke, Gender-Based Violence Coordinator at Women for Change, a women-led non-governmental organization, adding that a lack of tangible conflict is no guarantee of peace on the home front. 'Behind closed doors, many women continue to suffer,' she said, remarking that recent months have seen a concerning increase of suicides related to physical abuse. Ms. Burke and some other 50 invited guests, including political and community leaders, survivors of violence and other stakeholders, discussed a variety of topics, all related to advocacy for human rights, at a workshop in Kuajok facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Another such issue is cattle raiding and the profound distress this harmful and unlawful practice causes. Alongside gender-based violence, cattle theft emerged as another significant issue during discussions. Daniel Mangar, Executive Director for Gogrial West County, elaborated on the profound economic and emotional distress caused by these incidents. "These thefts may seem minor to outsiders, but they create fear, tensions and financial losses for anyone affected,' commented Mariang Martin Agoth, Executive Director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, highlighting the importance of partnerships. "Humanitarians step in precisely where government resources fall short, trying to make sure that displaced families and other vulnerable community members are not forgotten." Lucy Okello, a Protection, Transition&Reintegration Officer serving with UNMISS, reflected on the bigger picture and the people of South Sudan the peacekeeping mission is here to serve. 'Each statistic we discuss represents real families, facing real and severe hardship. Our talk today must be translated into actions tomorrow.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Telegraph
Exposed: The ‘halal' matchmaking site advertising virgin brides
A Muslim matchmaking site for men to find virgin brides and take multiple wives is operating in Britain, The Telegraph can disclose. NikkahGram, a UK-registered company, describes itself as an Islamic solution for men seeking 'a shy, untouched spouse' or wishing to take a second, third or fourth wife. Virgin women under 35 are promoted as ideal first wives. Those older or with sexual histories are likened to 'low quality products', with their only hope being to share a husband. The organisation's social media page features a video on when to beat your wife, as well as claims that sex with non-virgins can cause cancer and that women are intellectually defective. NikkahGram lists Asif Munaf, a former NHS medic suspended for anti-Semitism, among its staff. Until contacted by The Telegraph, the site described him as their 'associate qualified doctor'. Mr Munaf, an entrepreneur who has appeared on Dragon's Den and The Apprentice, is now listed as the 'associate coach'. The link to book a £99 'mental wealth coaching call' in which he offered his 'medical expertise' no longer works. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: 'This vile site promotes domestic abuse. It shouldn't exist. The fact it does shows yet again how our immigration and integration policies have failed. 'Mr Munaf's views are abhorrent and should have no place in public life.' Baroness Gohir, the chief executive of the Muslim Women's Network UK, described the revelations as 'deeply troubling' and said the site promotes an extreme ideology that does not reflect British Muslim communities. She added: 'What they present as 'family values' is thinly veiled misogyny, targeting vulnerable women – especially new converts, those with limited religious knowledge, and insecure young Muslim men struggling with identity.' Founded in 2022, NikkahGram aims to 'facilitate marriage for Muslims who stick to core Islamic values of modesty and submission to Allah without modern excuses'. The company's website claims it exists 'for sisters who value their virginity and preserve it, and for brothers who remain chaste and wish to find an untouched wife'. Women who join must declare if they are virgins – defined as no 'previous relationship, haram physical touches or any type of intercourse' – and whether they would be willing to marry a husband with more than one wife. Virgin women under 35 get free access, while most men pay £24.99 per month or up to £499.99 for 'lifetime VIP' access. Once registered, users can browse and express interest in someone else's profile, but all contact is channelled through the woman's legal guardian, preventing private conversation between prospective couples. Men are advised not to register Islamic marriages in the West, where bigamy is a crime and divorce law ensures assets are split. NikkahGram claims that registering a marriage means 'one or more parties will always be treated unjustly'. It even allows customers to select a spouse who agrees to a 'non-registered' union. The company defended its position to The Telegraph, saying that 'users are made fully aware of the legal and religious distinctions regarding marriage'. Its Instagram account has posted over 500 times, often featuring Right-wing clerics and male Muslim influencers. In videos bearing the site's logo, male figures promote the wearing of a niqab – a veil which covers the whole face apart from a slit for the eyes – advise divorcing 'feminist' wives who fail to meet '60 per cent' of a husband's demands, such as serving breakfast in bed, and suggest that wife-beating is 'symbolic', not 'abusive'. A post made just six days ago features footage of Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem, who said men displeased with their wives should first advise them to change, then deny them sex, and 'if they persist, finally strike them lightly'. 'Not with a baseball bat,' he added. 'Not from the very beginning, boom, no, but gradual. And this is for the goodness of the marriage. 'You don't beat a wife just out of the blue. You have these instructions in the Koran and the beating has to be in accordance with Islam. So it has to be with a miswak that doesn't leave a mark, doesn't shed blood. Doesn't break a bone. 'It's something symbolic to show her that you have reached the end of the rainbow. If nothing is fixed, then divorce can be resorted to.' Another post features Hocine Based, a Muslim fitness influencer, claiming that sex with non-virgins can cause cancer. He claimed: 'Even the exchange of saliva, even exchange of looks, and eyes, and even pheromones, a woman will be adaptive, because she's a host, so she prepares her body which adapts to the man's DNA… because a baby is an external organism that's actually growing within her. 'And if it doesn't align with her DNA, guess what? We get cancer!' There is no medical evidence to support this statement. Though NikkahGram presents itself as a religious matchmaking platform, critics argue it repackages Western misogyny in Islamic language, echoing the online 'manosphere'. Lady Gohir told The Telegraph that the men behind the site 'appear threatened by Muslim women who are confident, religiously informed and aware of their rights whether that means pursuing education and careers, seeking legal protection through civil marriage, or choosing divorce to escape abuse. 'Influenced by figures like Andrew Tate, these fringe voices use a veneer of piety and scholarship, but their message is neither authentic nor aligned with the ethics and spirit of Islam.' She said there is a danger the content could fuel prejudice against Muslims. The website also risks fuelling fears that some migrants to Britain are reluctant to integrate. Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year suggested Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers', a comment he later claimed to regret making after a Left-wing backlash. Particular concern centres on videos posted by the website on Instagram and TikTok, promoting what it calls an ideal Islamic marriage. These state that women must not work, must home-school to avoid secular education and must always acquiesce to marital sex. Women are encouraged to remain virgins, marry 'very young', and 'mix it up in the home and the bedroom' to stop men straying. One branded video states: 'You cannot stop your husband's desire [for a second wife] because it's natural, you can only make him love you so much that he doesn't bother to pursue it.' Naz Shah, the former shadow minister for women and equalities, told The Telegraph that NikkahGram's messaging and business practices were 'frankly vile and deeply disturbing'. The Labour MP, who has spoken about her own experiences of being forced into a violent and sexually abusive marriage in Pakistan aged just 15, said: 'The categorisation of women into so-called 'virgins' and 'non-virgins', along with different membership 'tiers' based on such degrading labels, is nothing short of dehumanising. 'This kind of rhetoric has no foundation in Islam, nor in any ethical framework rooted in dignity or respect.' Mr Munaf, who was listed as NikkahGram's 'associate qualified doctor', was temporarily suspended from the medical register last November pending a General Medical Council investigation into anti-Semitic posts, including Holocaust denial and claiming 9/11 was 'a Jewish job'. Despite being subject to an interim suspension order, he continues to promote pseudoscience on NikkahGram's social media. In a video posted on April 3, months into his second suspension, he warned fathers about the dangers that 'modern medicine' poses to their daughters. He endorsed false claims that contraceptive pills can make women 'kind of bisexual' as they disrupt 'not only your menstrual cycle but also your personality, attraction levels and emotional connection to your husband, making some women kind of bisexual as their hormones get unsynced'. The Medical Act 1983 states that suspended doctors 'shall be treated as not being registered' and that anyone who 'wilfully and falsely pretends' to be a registered medical practitioner may be committing a criminal offence. Mr Munaf has disputed that his involvement with NikkahGram, or any of his other medical ventures, could constitute an offence under the Act. In a post still visible on the platform from last September, Mr Munaf claimed that women have 'defects in their intellect' and 'don't have the ability to make decisions for themselves'. He argued that because men 'can marry without discussing it with anyone', while women require a legal guardian, the sexes 'aren't the same'. He continued: 'Women do need to be treated with a bit more support and advice. Because they don't have the ability to make decisions for themselves, hence why women can't become leaders. How many prophets were women? Zero. How many Khalifs were women? Zero. 'So women can't take up leadership positions because they have defects in their intellect. I'm not ashamed to say that, as a man, as a doctor.' Mr Munaf told The Telegraph his belief in female intellectual inferiority was grounded in centuries of Islamic scholarship. In another post on NikkahGram's social media, the suspended doctor claimed that women should not take or post selfies because they are 'more prone to emotionality, to being satisfied by external validation'. The website urges men and women to seek spouses abroad. An Instagram post from the official NikkahGram account last September reads: 'We encourage brothers to get married from overseas, second wife especially but first wives too. 'Less prone to feminism, more traditional, and many virgins! If you're tired of Western sisters and want a wife (or second/third/fourth wife) who respects your role as a man and a provider, and hers as a homemaker, you should consider this.' In a video, Mr Munaf said: 'We've got a service that matches quality brothers, professional brothers of the UK, who don't want to get married in the UK to Moroccan ladies, North African ladies.' He added: 'There's a lot of brothers now going to North Africa for second wives, or even first wives, actually. Because a lot of brothers have gotten sick of feminism in the West, generally.' The revelations follow a Telegraph investigation last week that found Mr Munaf's business, Dr Sick Ltd, issued sick notes to let people go on holiday, take leave for alleged Covid infection, or care for an ill dog. He had also been offering 'online medical consultations' for £150. In a statement on Saturday, NikkahGram attempted to distance itself from Mr Munaf, claiming that the suspended doctor 'is not engaged in any medical capacity on our platform nor do we represent him as such'. 'His presence on the platform has been in a personal capacity, limited to lifestyle coaching and men's personal development,' it said, claiming his use of the 'Dr' title was 'retained for identification, not to indicate ongoing clinical authority'. A spokesman said: 'NikkahGram operates strictly within UK law and Islamic principles. We provide a religious matrimonial service that reflects the values and preferences of many practicing Muslims. 'All participation is voluntary, and our platform facilitates lawful introductions between consenting adults who seek to marry in accordance with their faith.' 'We do not promote abuse, coercion, or illegality. We only discuss and endorse faith-based preferences that are protected under religious freedom laws,' they added.
