Domestic abuse is not just physical. It has a pattern and cycles. It starts off slowly and escalates, it usually starts with things like jealousy, paranoia, being controlling and verbal abuse. These things then escalate to physical abuse. The physical abuse can be an attack on the person…or it can be breaking furniture and throwing things. ‘I didn’t mean to throw that at his head’ would not be a defence. In law even the reasonable knowledge that you are causing that person fear by your violent behaviour is enough for an assault charge. The 999 call of him telling operator he is in fear of his life is the strong evidence there!
The continued violence at the police station and the insults heard on the 999 calls are evidence of a violent assault, both verbal and physical, from start to finish. It is also common for female abusers to attack men whilst sleeping so the element of surprise makes up for the size difference, if you think about it, that is very controlling and shows intent.
Personally I see a pattern of abuse in her life through the years. Explosive arguments with ex’s, arguments with the neighbour that went on record. Quickly getting engaged but suspecting various boyfriends of cheating and then dropping them, or fighting with them the next week. Accusing her ex of phoning an ambulance out of spite. She even got her ‘camp’ to say she did imply she would kill herself ‘but she didn’t mean it’. They said how he felt ashamed for ‘wasting police time’. Seems like smearing and gaslighting the other person and getting others to do the dirty work for you. All hallmarks of a very controlling person. She was also happy to use the press to smear her ex and in effect 'bully' him.
As others have said on this thread, they suspect Borderline p.d. to me it seems to fit with what we know, even her last instagram statement and suicide. BPD people generally have chaotic relationships, they self medicate and moods can flip throughout the day. She apparently convinced ambulance services she was fine when her ex called them then again in the week up to her death and then tragically again when her friend left her the morning of her death. So maybe the quick suicide was caused by a flip in her mood when being left alone.
She said she had been having a breakdown for years, it is more likely she had a mood disorder or personality disorder, as this would be through your adult life. I know I can’t diagnose but I suspect.
The need to absolve her by certain people has baffled me. She was a very troubled person and I can understand her family will be devastated but…she was responsible for getting herself help. There is so much focus on her being ‘bullied’ by the media but domestic abuse is an awful, long term form of bullying which causes the victims extreme mental stress too. There was not one apology to her victim in that statement.
Kerry Katona’s ex was charged with assaulting her, why is there this difference in attitude? He had mental health issues too, he had become mentally unwell after taking drugs but no-one has said he was ‘vulnerable’ or should have been let off anything. Maybe because people have a perception of Caroline Flack from seeing her on TV as nice, attractive or whatever. The Sun didn’t help by running headlines about the height difference between her and her boyfriend, I even wonder if her people had encouraged that story. I don’t doubt she had mental health problems but so do many people who kill wives, children and husbands. It is not an excuse for your choices unless someone is actually psychotic and has lost touch with all reality. It needs to be prosecuted because something needs to stop the cycle of abuse before it gets worse.
Sorry for the lengthy rant but as others have said here, I am strangely obsessed now with the topsy-turvy attitude to Flack where she is virtually given a sainthood and her actions and patterns of behaviour ignored. It is really worrying in terms of awareness of domestic abuse.