Domestic-violence killings dominate murders in area this year

Star-News - 7/14/2017

July 14--Of the 16 homicide investigations in the Wilmington area thus far this year, seven were committed by intimate partners and two of the killings were perpetrated by a family member or friend.

The domestic violence-related slayings are at numbers not seen since 2004, said District Attorney Ben David.

This week, Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law a bill that would make it easier for domestic violence offenders be found guilty of first-degree murder.

"This is an important new tool to hold people fully accountable for these heinous killings. (These types of murders) are not only a betrayal of trust, but are frequently long-form abuse that culminates in a fatality," David said.

On Tuesday, Cooper signed "Britny's Law," which allows prosecutors to charge first-degree murder if the killing was committed with malice against a former or current intimate partner and the accused had a history of domestic violence against the victim. The law goes into effect Dec. 1.

"Malice can mean express malice -- hatred, ill will or spite -- or it can be implied malice, and implied malice means that if someone intentionally uses a deadly weapon like a gun or knife, you can infer malice from the intentional use of that deadly weapon," David said.

Previously, David said, defendant's would argue the killing was in the heat of passion and not in cold blood, resulting in a second-degree murder charge.

This new law, named after a Fuquay-Varina woman killed by her boyfriend in 2014 lobbied for by Britny Puryear's parents, states, "there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the murder is a willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing" if the perpetrator has been convicted of stalking, threats, trespassing, domestic violence or had a protection order filed against them by the victim.

"Domestic violence is a crime that destroys families and lives," said Gov. Cooper. "These new laws give survivors of domestic violence more ways to protect themselves, and law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to hold perpetrators of domestic violence responsible for their crimes."

David said domestic violence-related killings are far worse than stranger killings because they are frequently preceded by a pattern of abuse.

"Where there is a history of abuse, including when a court issues a domestic violence protective order, this evidence should be considered to elevate a killing to first degree murder," he said. "Many of these killings are not just done in the heat of passion, they are cold-blooded murders."

The increase in domestic violence killings this year is an inexplicable anomaly, he said.

"If I knew why these were happening I would do everything I could to try to educate the community," he said. "I think it is a reminder that we need to support domestic violence shelters and other allied agencies that are working on behalf of these victims."

Reporter F.T. Norton can be reached at 910-343-2070 or Fran.Norton@StarNewsOnline.com.

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