Women's Aid respond to Story Films and BBC documentary 'Fallen Women' with Stacey Dooley

Stacey Dooley looks into the deaths of women who have fallen from height, in cases where domestic abuse may have been part of the wider picture, and asks what role, if any, abuse can play in how these women die.

As Stacey meets bereaved families, survivors, detectives, lawyers and campaigners, she explores how coercive control can shape women’s lives long before a fatal incident, and whether those histories are given sufficient weight when deaths are investigated.

Among the cases, we see Stacey meet the family of Bianca Thomas, a young mother from Birmingham who died after falling from an 11th-floor balcony. Bianca's death was ruled accidental, but her family still have questions about the circumstances surrounding her death.

Stacey also hears about the landmark case of Kimberley Milne, whose husband was convicted in Scotland of culpable homicide after sustained domestic abuse was found to have been a significant contributing factor in her death by suicide, and asks what that could mean for similar cases in England and Wales.

Powerful and deeply personal, the programme explores grief, justice and the difficult questions surrounding women who die after falling from height.

Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, has commented on the program:

“Last night’s BBC Documentary, Fallen Women, made for haunting and sobering viewing. The documentary, fronted by Stacey Dooley, takes a probing look at the serious injuries and deaths of women who fell from height and the role that domestic abuse may have played in each case. The courage of everyone who spoke up last night to raise awareness and call for change to happen should be applauded.

“We know from our work with survivors that domestic abuse, and the coercive control that so often underpins it, can and does erode women’s lives. We also know that it can prevent women from seeking help – whether for fear of not being believed or the fear of the perpetrator. It is vital that the stories of these women are told and more is done to keep others from harm.

“We are grateful to Stacey for shining a light on this harrowing issue, as well as the families who took part in this documentary – our thoughts are with them as they navigate unimaginable change and loss. We also applaud the work of Killed Women, and other organisations and individuals who are bringing the stories of these women to the forefront of national conversation. It should serve as an urgent driver to ensure women are better supported and have safe routes to escaping their abusers.”

Fallen Women is available to watch now on BBCiPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032k3z/stacey-dooley-fallen-women