Our Inspiration

Clare's Story

Clare was shot dead by a former boyfriend in the Harvey Nichols store in Knightsbridge in September 2005. He began stalking her after their three-week relationship had ended, following her in the street, pestering her with phone calls, standing outside her house and bombarding her with text messages. One day he followed her from her work place to London Bridge Station where he pushed her in the back and told her: "If you dare report me I will kill you” and on another occasion, 'If I can't have you, nobody will”. The Police arrested him for breaking a restraining order and prosecuted him on a charge of harassment. Whilst awaiting sentencing, he went back home to Slovakia and purchased a gun.On Tuesday, the 13th September, 10 minutes before closing time, Pech entered the Harvey Nichols store, walked up behind Clare and shot her in the head four times. He then turned the gun on himself.

Additional information:
A Mother's Story - Tricia Bernal speaks about her daughter's death.
Clare Bernal – The Coroner’s Inquest. Comment by Ray Donelan

Rana's Story

Rana was stabbed to death in August 2003 by a former boyfriend who had been stalking her for many weeks. Police had been aware of his stalking and acts of harrasment following their split three months earlier. The police were called to her house on several occasions and the man was warned a number of times after spying on her in the early morning at her home and generally harassing her by photographing her and sending emails and text messages. Two weeks before she was murdered he had cut the brake pipes on her car but regrettably the police took no action. Moments before Rana was killed she had called 999.

Additional information:
A Mother's Story - Carol Faruqui speaks about her daughter's death.
MP Theresa May addresses Parliament about Rana's murder and Policing failures

Tania's Story

Tania was driven off the road and shot dead in March 2004 by her former partner who carried out a campaign of terror against her for over a year. She told police on no fewer than six occasions of problems she was experiencing including an attack at her home, orchestrated by him, by two men during a violent robbery where she was repeatedly hit with a baseball bat. Harassment continued with menacing text messages and telephone calls in which he threatened to kill her. He had a history of violence towards women and had a previous conviction for making threats to kill his former wife. Whilst the police knew he had access to lethal weapons, was a lawful holder of a firearms certificate and had a shotgun certificate, the risk he posed to Tania was never assessed by them.