Georgia Barter’s inquest concludes in finding of unlawful killing resulting from domestic abuse

21 October 2025

Georgia Barter’s inquest was held at East London Coroner’s Court from 22 September to 2 October 2025. Credit: Richard Coomber / Shutterstock.

Georgia Barter died at Kings College Hospital on 26 April 2020, after being violently assaulted by her partner on or around 5 April 2020 and taking a fatal overdose. She had been subjected to around a decade of domestic abuse by her partner.

The inquest into Georgia’s death found that she was unlawfully killed and died as a result of domestic abuse. This is understood to be only the second-ever such finding (following the groundbreaking inquest into the death of Kellie Sutton) and the first by a Coroner sitting alone. The perpetrator has not to date been convicted of any criminal offences relating to the matters that were within the scope of this inquest.

Assistant Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe reached the unlawful killing conclusion on 2 October 2025, following seven days of distressing evidence at East London Coroner’s Court. Dr Radcliffe also identified that there were missed opportunities for a multi-agency response to the domestic abuse that Georgia was subjected to, although she was not able to say that such a response would have prevented Georgia’s death.

The Coroner expressed serious concern about the national prevalence of domestic violence and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Home Secretary, calling for improvements in the way that the Police National Database is utilised.

Dr Radcliffe said: “[Front line officers] are unable to easily identify if the individual has a history of reported domestic abuse in areas outside the forces’ borders. This would allow police to be more proactive in their dealings with victims of domestic violence […] This is on a background of rising numbers of domestic violence cases in this country.”

Georgia was a much-loved young woman by her family and friends. Over the course of her relationship with her partner, her mother Kay feared and fought for Georgia’s safety from domestic abuse.

Georgia’s mother, Kay, said: “This ruling won’t change anything for my family and I and it won’t bring my beautiful daughter back. Nothing will ever put this heartbroken mother back together again. My darling Georgia was a beautiful, kind soul whose generosity touched everyone around her. It took Georgia a very long time to ask for help because she felt judged and ashamed. In the end, Georgia did reach out for help but the support wasn’t there for her. All I want now is to shine a light on the epidemic of domestic abuse which is killing women. I say to the powers that be NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE.”

The solicitor for the family, Clare Hayes, said: “The coroner’s finding of unlawful killing vindicates Georgia’s mother’s fight for justice on behalf of Georgia and makes it a matter of public record that Georgia died as a result of domestic abuse. We have heard tragic evidence about the horrifying abuse that Georgia suffered over many, many years and the barriers to escaping a coercive and controlling relationship.” 

“This inquest has revealed evidence about the role of domestic abuse and importantly coercion and control in Georgia’s death that has much wider significance for how the state understands gender-based violence. It has also revealed that some of the agencies involved have made potentially far-reaching changes. This is testament to the tireless efforts of Georgia’s mother in seeking accountability and change following Georgia’s death. We hope that agencies will continue to work to ensure that on a very practical level steps are taken so that police officers and clinicians exercise professional curiosity when working with victims and survivors of abuse, to piece together a fuller picture and take available steps to prevent further abuse.” 

Frank Mullane CEO, Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), said: “It is testament to the resilience of Kay, Georgia’s mother and Georgia’s family and to their love for Georgia, that some justice was achieved late last week in the inquest court. The family first secured a Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (“DARDR”) and then stood strong for so many years to ensure that the DARDR unveiled the truth and in detail, and that the inquest reached the right conclusion that Georgia’s death was unlawful killing. It has been an honour to work with Georgia’s awesome family and the brilliant Clare Hayes of Deighton Pierce Glynn to see justice served.”

Garden Court North’s Kate Stone represented Georgia’s family, together with Clare Hayes and Maja Pegler from Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors. They are also supported by Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA).

If you are affected by the issues in this release, Samaritans are available 24/7. Call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org.

Additional media

Deighton Pierce Glynn – Georgia’s inquest concludes Unlawful Killing resulting from domestic abuse

The Guardian – Georgia’s story: how a domestic abuse victim’s suicide was ruled an unlawful killing by her partner

East London Coroner’s Court – Prevention of Future Deaths report

For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk