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David Challen Advocates for Domestic Abuse Awareness After Mother’s Coercive Control Ordeal
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Following his mother’s imprisonment for killing his father, David Challen is dedicated to raising awareness about coercive control and domestic abuse, sharing his family’s story in a new book.
LONDON – David Challen, son of sally challen, who was convicted and later freed after killing her husband, Richard Challen, is now a vocal advocate for domestic abuse awareness. His mother endured decades of coercive control, a form of psychological manipulation, which led to the tragic events of 2011.
In an interview on BBC one’s “Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg,” David Challen discussed his new book, “The Unthinkable,” which details his family’s experiences and highlights the need for greater protection for victims of domestic abuse.
Family handout“I had a pristine frontage of a middle-class home – no one thought it could happen behind those doors, but it did.”
the Challen Case and Coercive Control
Sally challen’s case became a landmark in the understanding and legal recognition of coercive control. Originally convicted of murder,her conviction was later overturned after evidence of the abuse she suffered came to light. In 2019, she was freed after prosecutors accepted her manslaughter plea.
David Challen’s Mission
David Challen is determined to use his personal experiences to help others recognize and address coercive control. He emphasizes the importance of having a language to describe the insidious nature of non-physical violence.
“It gave us a language to describe what was going on in that home, to describe the insidious nature that is mostly non-physical violence,”
His book, “The Unthinkable,” aims to give voice to those who have grown up in homes where domestic abuse was not explicitly recognized or discussed. He hopes to raise awareness and prevent similar events from happening in the future.
