Domestic abuse victim killed by girlfriend

4:23pm Friday 3rd October 2008

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A MOTHER-OF-TWO who stabbed her music producer boyfriend to death after subjecting him to years of domestic abuse has been jailed.

Gaillene Young, of Bardsley Lane, Greenwich, killed 35-year-old Nicholas Venn, who was a close friend of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, during a row at their home.

The Old Bailey heard how his promising career, which included work with Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood, came to a horrific end following an eight-year stormy relationship with 36-year-old Young.

When he died on September 3 last year, Mr Venn had his arm in plaster following an unrelated stabbing in the street.

Early in the morning Young left a series of answerphone messages with Mr Venn's mother Sheila.

Mr Venn could be heard in the background saying "It's all right Gail, it's all right", to which Young shouted back "No it's not all right".

Minutes later she knocked on a neighbour's door saying her partner was dead.

He was found sitting on the toilet with a single stab wound to his chest and said "I'm dying, help me".

Paramedics arrived and took him to hospital but he died later that morning.

The court heard how at the hospital Young tried to hug her victim while he was being resuscitated.

However, she was later heard on the phone saying: "I'm not going to take the blame for this."

Psychiatrists later diagnosed her as suffering from a pervasive personality disorder due to a dysfunctional childhood.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

In a statement to the court, Mr Venn's mother said her son had suffered years of physical and mental abuse.

She said: "I think it is important to mention that unfortunately the belief among some is that men cannot be the victim of domestic violence."

Judge Christopher Moss gave Young an indeterminate sentence today (Oct 3) and said she must serve at least four years.

He added: "It is agreed you do not need treatment in hospital under the terms of the Mental Health Act. Plainly you must go to prison for your crime."