Family wait years for review into daughter's death

The parents of a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend in 2021 are still waiting for a review into her death, which should have been completed in six months.

Ross McCullam was jailed for a minimum of 23 years after killing Megan Newborough, 23, at his home in Coalville, Leicestershire.

BBC analysis has now found just 1% of reviews into domestic abuse-related deaths in England and Wales are being completed in the recommended time of six months.

Elaine Newborough, Megan's mother, says "nothing is changing" and the delayed review "prolongs the grieving period as well".

Every domestic killing or suicide involving people aged 16 and over in England and Wales is subject to a domestic homicide review (DHR).

According to Home Office guidance, DHRs make recommendations to prevent others from being killed by partners or family members.

BBC analysis found most are taking years and that none of the 21 reviews undertaken in the East Midlands had been completed within six months.

The body of Megan, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, was dumped in the Leicestershire countryside after she was murdered.

McCullam admitted manslaughter but denied murder and was given a life sentence. He was told he would serve at least 23 years.

In 2023, her family founded the Megan Newborough Foundation to raise money for charities supporting women who suffer violence.

Her mother paid tribute to her daughter, saying she had "a wicked sense of humour" and "would light up the room when she walked in".

Anthony Newborough, Megan's father, said: "The grief comes in waves.

"You think you can deal with it, but then all of a sudden a big wave comes over you and seems to drown you again. So it's been very difficult."

Mrs Newborough added: "We were hoping that Megan's voice would be part of this process. There's been meetings that we haven't been party to.

"They wouldn't include our advocate on the panel meetings. They wouldn't let her attend meetings. And it's just been a very painful process.

"Nothing is changing. It's stressful. It's incredibly stressful. And it prolongs the grieving period as well, because every time you're going back, you're reliving the same feelings over and over again.

"Four or five years for a review, how many more people are dying?"

Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: "Every death related to domestic abuse is a devastating tragedy and should not be overlooked.

"DHRs offer a really important opportunity for agencies on a local and national level to consider each individual victim, improve their safeguarding practices and ultimately prevent these deaths from happening in the first place.

"But we know that more needs to be done to ensure these reviews are effective and timely, which is why we are cracking on with action to improve the way they are undertaken.

"This includes creating a new oversight board with publicly-appointed members to make the process for reviewing reports faster."

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line website.

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