Four women have been allegedly murdered by men in separate domestic violence incidents across South Australia over the past week.
Three men have been charged with the murders of women they knew, while police have launched a wide scale search for a fourth man who is alleged to have shot his wife.
Police are searching for Kevin Jewell, who allegedly shot his wife – Jodie Jewell – dead at their home shortly after 6pm on Tuesday. He fled the scene and police have said he is armed and considered to be dangerous. He is believed to be driving a Mitsubishi Triton ute.
“If Kevin is watching, I make this appeal to him. Kevin you can’t undo what has been done last night and a warrant has been issued for your arrest today,” Superintendent Des Bray, Officer in Charge of Major Crime said.
“We’re actively looking for you and we will locate you. I encourage you forthwith, without any delay to engage in a solicitor and negotiate your safe surrender to police”.
Also in South Australia over the past week, a 50-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 44-year-old woman in Felixstow in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs. The woman was found killed last Wednesday and police have said the man was known to the woman.
Then last Thursday, a 53-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 45-year-old woman in Davenport, near Port Augusta. Police said the man was known to the woman.
On Monday, a 40-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 39-year-old woman in Morphett Vale, in Adelaide.
Researchers at Destroy the Joint have updated their Counting Dead Women register of known deaths due to violence against women in 2023, which now stands at 53. We are currently in the 47th week of 2023, meaning more than one woman has been killed each week of this year. There are still five weeks of the year remaining.
Six women have now been killed across Australia in the last seven days, five allegedly by men’s violence.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women approaches
This week of tragic news related to men’s violence comes as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women approaches this Saturday, 25 November. The day kicks off 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence that will run from 25 November to 10 December, with the theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.
As Natasha Stott Despoja wrote on X: “Four women in my home state murdered this week, allegedly at the hands of intimate/former partners. I’m sickened by the statistics. The slaughter has to stop. Saturday is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women #IDEVAW. This violence is preventable.”
A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women shows that nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2022 across the globe.
Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon from Monash University said the impact of violence against women and girls globally is “incomprehensible”.
“The number of women and girls killed intentionally in 2022 is higher than any year in the past two decades,” she said.
“This report must give cause for urgent action and increased global commitment to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls, including femicide.
“Femicide is preventable. UNODC and UN Women are calling on the global community to act now to invest in preventing violence at the outset. It is essential that countries worldwide listen to this call for action and move swiftly to secure the safety of women and girls.”
Professor Fitz-Gibbon noted how urgent the issue is in Australia.
“The release of this global report comes at a time when six women have been killed in Australia in the last seven days alone, five allegedly by male violence. This is not a problem occurring only internationally, this is an urgent problem in Australia,” she said.
“Australia has a National Plan which commits to ending gender based violence in one generation. Achieving this requires accelerated commitments and increased investment in evidence-based prevention to improve safety outcomes for women and girls.”
If you are concerned about your behaviour, or about someone using violence, call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone you know is in need of help due to sexual assault or family and domestic violence contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
In an emergency call 000.