Problem
Kati tried to escape from her fiancé who was becoming increasingly abusive. She found a flat to rent in another city but he kept phoning and harassing her. Kati's mental state deteriorated.
One day, the fiancé went to get her after work to make her move back. He took her to a nearby forest, where he tried to strangle her with her pullover. The next day Kati told her colleagues at work that she was afraid he would one day strangle and kill her.
Four days later the fiancé had a few drinks. Again, he waited for her after work and when she came out he started to beat her. In the evening, he decided that they should visit relatives. On the way they stopped the car several times. Kati, seeing the state he was in, agreed to have sex with him but he was too drunk.
Kati told her fiancé that she was not interested in him any more. This made him very angry. He grabbed a long leather belt and strangled her.
He then pulled her dead body into a ditch and covered her with tree branches.
A. THE ANALYSIS OF THE CRIME
a. What do you think of the crime as reported?
b. Where might such a crime have happened? Could it be in your neighbourhood?
c. Why has the crime happened?
d. Is there anything that could justify such a crime? 5. How could the victim have defended herself?
B. TRANSFER TO SOCIAL REALITY
a. Do you know, or have you heard of any cases of domestic violence recently?
b. What forms does domestic violence take in our society?
c. What can the victims do if they need help?
d. Should the police intervene if they hear of violence or should such intervention be considered as interference in domestic affairs and should they "allow time for the wounds to heal"?
e. What power does the woman have in such situations?
f. What power does the man have?
g. Do you know of cases of domestic violence in which a man is the victim?
h. How can domestic violence be prevented and stopped?
i. What could/should be done by:
- the public authorities?
- the local community?