1. DM1ST
THURSDAY 23.10.2014 DAILYMIRROR 7mirror.co.uk
TORTURES WIFE FOR 3 DAYS
He carved me
open with a
Stanley knife
then swung
the axe... I
thought he’d
behead me
THE VICTIM
initially refused to pay out “on account
ofMrChurchilldeliberatelysettingfire
to his own property”.
But last night the firm offered a
£5,000 gesture of goodwill “in light of
the tragedy of this terrible situation”.
A spokesman said: “We have the
utmost sympathy for the horrific inci-
dents that Mrs Churchill suffered.”
However Rachel fumed: “It’s a kick to
the teeth. She has lost a house worth
£230,000 and the contents were valued
at £15,000. To be offered £5,000 is ridicu-
lous. We are going to pursue this.”
mirrornews@mirror.co.uk
added:“Shehadtwoblackeyes,sixdeep
wounds to her chest, neck and arm, her
skull and chest bone was fractured.”
At Liverpool crown court this week,
Churchill pleaded guilty to assaulting
June, wounding her with intent to
commit grievous bodily harm, falsely
imprisoning her and committing arson
and was warned he would be jailed. He
will be sentenced on December 8.
Now June, last year hailed a hero for
takingonagun-totingthuginherflorist
shop, faces a battle for insurers to pay
out for the devastation caused by her
husband torching their home. Esure
the floor and he stood over me with the
axe,swingingandswinging.Iremember
thinking ‘I’ve got to get through this for
my kids’. I was in shock. I grabbed the
axe and refused to let go, he began
gouging my eyes with his thumb.”
After the onslaught in September,
Churchill torched the house in Maghull,
Merseyside,anddrovehiswifetohospital
beforethreateninghernottotellanybody
about the days she spent in captivity.
June – who has made a remarkable
recovery – said: “He’s a monster. I hope
he gets what he deserves. I’m so lucky I
am alive.” June’s daughter Rachel, 25,
into the semi-detached house. Holding
the axe and a carrier bag of cable ties he
warned: “OK, we can do it the easy way,
orthehardway.”Juneremembered:“He
went through what he was going to do
to me as if he was reeling off a shopping
list. He said everything so coolly.
“Then he hit me in the chest with the
axe. He said it was to let me know that
hemeantbusinessand he wouldkillme
if I didn’t go along with what he said.
“HegotholdofmyheadandIthought
he was going to chop my hair off –
insteadheslicedmyneckopen.Ithought
he was about to cut my head off. I fell to
services. June’s experience is
also further proof of the need
for the victims’ safety to be
the top priority of a criminal
justice system that so
often fails them.”
dangerous time for a victim and
her children is when she is
planning or making her exit.
“Safety planning is just one
part of the support provided by
specialist domestic violence
killed they are subject to coercive,
controlling, and psychologically
abusive behaviour.
“Abusers choose to behave
violently to gain and maintain
control. So often the most
‘CriminaljusticesystemregularlyfailsabusedwomenlikeJune’
POLLY Neate, chief executive of
Women’s Aid said June’s horrific
experience is all too common.
She said: “Two women a week
are killed by a partner or
ex-partner, and before they are
June with horrific injuries in hospital
SCARRED
Brave June
WEAPONS She
was cut with axe
and Stanley knife
BRUTAL Blood covers
her head following attack
The 24hr freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline is 0808 2000 247 or visit www.womensaid.org.uk