Case Explained: Jersey plans for new domestic abuse laws ‘bittersweet’ for victim – Legal Perspective

A domestic abuse survivor has said plans for new laws to better protect victims are “bittersweet”.

Jersey’s justice and home affairs minister has proposed five laws to protect women and girls from violent behaviour, including stalking and online abuse.

Suzannah Mahe’s abuser was jailed in 2024 for raping and assaulting her but he couldn’t be convicted for strangling because it wasn’t a specific crime, something that will be changed under the new proposals.

She said she was “obviously really delighted” about the planned change but was “disappointed” it wasn’t an offence when her case was going through court.

If approved, the law would make strangling someone without consent – in any setting, not just at home – a specific, standalone crime.

It would also come with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Responding to this, Ms Mahe said: “It’s lots of different emotions I would say.

“I’m extremely happy for future victims going forward but in my case it could have made such a difference.”

She believes her abuser could have faced a harsher sentence if he had been prosecuted for strangulation.

Ms Mahe has previously called for non-fatal strangulation to be recognised as a specific crime in Jersey law and has shared her experiences at local and national campaigning events.

She said she was “extremely proud” to know her words have made a difference.

She said: “I think ultimately when I first came forward, I just wanted the world to know that victims are not alone.

“I think you never know where speaking out may take you and I’m obviously so happy and privileged to have been given many more opportunities to tell my story and advocate for future changes to happen to the court.”

Kate Wright, CEO of domestic abuse charity Freeda, said the planned legal changes mark a “really important step forward for Jersey in tackling violence against women”.

She said: “I think they close long-serving gaps in the law by recognising forms of abuse we know are highly dangerous, like stalking, non-fatal strangulation and the misuse of intimate images.

“And they give the justice system stronger tools to intervene earlier and protect victims. That’s so important.”

She said it shows what is possible when government, charities and communities work together.

Ms Wright is head of a task force that produced a report on gender-based violence in Jersey in 2023, recommending many of the legal changes now proposed by the government.

“As chair of the Violence Against Women and Girls Task force, I’m really proud that this reflects years of cross-sector work,” she said.

She added that “law change alone isn’t enough” to tackle domestic abuse.

She said: “We really must pair this with properly funded support services, education and a real cultural shift in how we understand power, control and harm in relationships.

“Ending violence against women and girls requires sustained commitment from all of us.”