A Nova Scotia inquiry investigating why a former soldier killed his household and himself in 2017 turned its consideration at present to the difficulty of domestic violence.
The manager director of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Standing of Girls, Stephanie MacInnis-Langley, informed the inquiry that these dealing with intimate companion violence are most in danger when they’re about to depart an abusive relationship.
The inquiry has heard Lionel Desmond, who served in Afghanistan in 2007 and was identified with post-traumatic stress dysfunction in 2011, fatally shot his spouse, mom and 10-year-old daughter after his spouse Shanna made it clear she wished a divorce.
One of many key mandates of the provincial fatality inquiry, which began hearings in January 2020, is to find out if Desmond and his household had entry to home violence prevention companies.
MacInnis-Langley informed the inquiry that victims of home violence have a tendency to reduce the extent of hazard they’re dealing with.
Solely hours earlier than Desmond killed his household, he positioned a name to a therapist to say his spouse had requested him for a divorce — and the inquiry additionally discovered that across the similar time, Shanna Desmond had referred to as a group group that gives help to ladies and youngsters dealing with home violence.
The inquiry heard that Shanna Desmond requested the group about learn how to acquire a peace bond, although she gave no indication she was in danger.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 14, 2021.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
