Real story

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“Murdered by My Boyfriend” is a fact-based drama first aired on BBC Three in 2014. It stars Georgina Campbell as Ashley Jones, a young victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her controlling boyfriend, Reece, portrayed by Royce Pierreson. The film is based on the true story of Casey Brittle, who was beaten to death by her boyfriend in Nottingham in 2010; the victim’s family requested that the characters be given different names for the production. According to the producers, the purpose of the film is to educate juvenile viewers about relationship abuse [1][3].

Seventeen-year-old Ashley meets Reece at a house party and they begin dating. She is initially swept off her feet by his good looks and charming personality, but as time goes by, Reece’s controlling and abusive nature becomes more and more apparent. He tells her what she can and cannot wear, checks her texts and Facebook page, and insults her appearance. Within three months, Ashley unintentionally becomes pregnant, and Reece persuades her to keep the baby. After striking Ashley while she is heavily pregnant, she considers leaving him but returns when he promises never to hurt her again.

Three years later, now living together with their young daughter Jasmine, Reece’s violence has increased and is taking a toll on Ashley’s entire life. When she confides in her best friend Kim and shows her numerous bruises, Kim begs her to leave him; Ashley explains that it is not that easy, and sometimes the relationship seems good. One afternoon while Ashley is at work in a clothing store, Reece storms in, headbutts her, and drags her into a fitting room before beating her up. Her colleague calls the police, and Ashley ends the relationship.

Later, while on a night out in Leicester, Ashley sleeps with another man, but he tells her he does not want to take it further because Reece will not allow it. Reece initially leaves Ashley alone but, over time, returns and—after constant berating and no help from the police—she takes him back. Reece proposes and Ashley reluctantly accepts.

One night, after Reece arrives home drunk from a night out, he asks Ashley if she slept with anyone while they were broken up. When she tells him she did, he flies into a rage and beats her to death with an ironing board while Jasmine watches in tears. Reece is initially sentenced to fifteen years in prison, but his sentence is later increased to twenty years on appeal due to the violent nature of the assault that resulted in Ashley’s death.

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