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Man charged in rare suicide-linked domestic abuse case
7 Mar
Summary
- A man faces manslaughter charges in a rare domestic abuse case.
- Gillian Morand, 36, died in Bexley, south-east London, in March 2020.
- Allegations of prolonged abuse are linked to her death.
In Bexley, south-east London, a man has been charged with manslaughter and coercive or controlling behaviour related to the 2020 death of Gillian Morand, aged 36. Police have initiated a rare prosecution concerning alleged domestic abuse linked to suicide.
An inquest had determined that Morand took her own life in March 2020. However, subsequent allegations of domestic abuse suffered by Morand came to light, prompting a Metropolitan police investigation. It is alleged that Seyhan Assaf, 45, subjected Morand to abuse over a significant period, which contributed to her death.
DCI Dan Whitten described the case as complex, noting the rarity of such charges nationally. Assaf is due to appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court. The Crown Prosecution Service affirmed that there is sufficient evidence for the charges and that pursuing them is in the public interest.
