Reporting on domestic violence often misses women's voices and skews the real story behind gender based violence.

1. Man Kills Wife, Shoots Self
The New York Times, October 30, 2006
A Dissection of News Coverage of Domestic Homicide

2. One in every four women will experience domestic violence
in her lifetime and yet most news reports paint a different
picture.
In four parts we'll look at how one report from the New York
Times shifts focus from the victim to the perpetrator; paints
the act as a stand alone event; softens the violence and
buries a history of abuse.
Man Kills Wife, Shoots Self

3. Crucial detail not included
Women are at the highest risk to be murdered immediately
after separation from spouse or partner.
A Brooklyn mother of two was killed yesterday afternoon while accepting a
housewarming gift when her newly estranged husband rushed up and shot her with a
shotgun he had hidden up his sleeve, the police and witnesses said. He then reloaded
and shot himself to death.
The woman, identified by friends as Karen Skellas, 44, an administrative worker at
Lutheran Medical Center, had just days ago moved into an apartment at 2261 East
Second Street in Gravesend, having left her husband, Ioannis Skellas, 49, with plans to
divorce him, said a coworker, John D’Atri.
Mr. D’Atri dropped by to deliver a housewarming gift shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday,
he said, and watched in horror as a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt approached and
shot Mrs. Skellas.
Part I

4. Part II
The police said there was no history of domestic violence between the two. Friends
described Mr. Skellas as a construction worker who enjoyed hunting. He did not appear
to have a criminal record, the police said yesterday.
The owner of a nearby deli in Bay Ridge, who gave her name only as Mrs. Lee, 59, said
Mr. Skellas came in most days for his favorite chewing gum, and yesterday also bought
a loaf of Italian bread, displaying no sign of what was to come.
“He’s such a nice person. Nothing trouble. Like a happy family,” Mrs. Lee said,
describing Mr. and Mrs. Skellas walking their pet pit bull together. “Every time quiet,
and he smiled.”
No One Saw This Coming
Describes assailant as a regular guy—and gives work
history. “He is such a nice person.”

5. Part III
George Lykourezos, 52, the owner of Spartan Souvlaki, where Mr. Skellas often came
for Greek salads, said Mr. Skellas approached him about four days ago with a hint that
there was trouble in the marriage. “He came in and asked if I knew any investigators,”
he said, referring to his friend as everyone did yesterday, by the name John. “I said,
‘John, I don’t know anybody.’ ” The next day, Mr. Skellas returned, Mr. Lykourezos
said. “He said, ‘Forget about it. I took care of it. I don’t need him anymore.’ ”
No one from the neighborhood seemed to know about trouble in the marriage.
Ultra Kind Description of Violence
No one from the neighborhood seemed to know about
trouble in the marriage.

6. Part IV
Mr. D’Atri, the coworker, said he believed Mr. Skellas had threatened violence in the
past, leading to the separation.
“To my understanding, she was waiting to see his reaction to the divorce, if there was
going to be a necessity for an order of protection,” he said. “She had felt threatened in
the past.”
Now You Tell Us!
This information was reserved for the final paragraphs.
Does it not place the entire event in a different context,
from an inexplicable act to one that is all to often
predictable?

7. Rewrite Desk!
A Brooklyn mother of two was killed yesterday afternoon while accepting a
housewarming gift when her newly estranged husband rushed up and shot her with a
shotgun he had hidden up his sleeve, the police and witnesses said. He then reloaded
and shot himself to death.
The woman, identified by friends as Karen Skellas, 44, an administrative worker at
Lutheran Medical Center, had just days ago moved into an apartment at 2261 East
Second Street in Gravesend, having left her husband, Ioannis Skellas, 49, with plans to
divorce him, said a coworker, John D’Atri.
Government statistics indicate that women are most vulnerable of being murdered
shortly after separation from their spouse or partner.
Mr. D’Atri, the coworker, said he believed Mr. Skellas had threatened violence in the
past, leading to the separation.
“To my understanding, she was waiting to see his reaction to the divorce, if there was
going to be a necessity for an order of protection,” he said. “She had felt threatened in
the past.”
The police said there was no history of domestic violence between the two. Friends
described Mr. Skellas as a construction worker who enjoyed hunting. He did not appear
to have a criminal record, the police said yesterday. Neighbors also said they were
unaware of any violence in the household.

8. Now We Get It
Facts from the story that put the woman in the picture
and reveal the hidden truths of domestic abuse:
• She left her husband, probably fearing for her life;
• She confided in a coworker who was glad she left;
• Her husband gave at least one person an indication that
he was planning something
• She did not reveal what she was going through to her
neighbors