Every third day, in our #EveryThreeDays campaign, I write about a woman killed by a man. Previously this month, I have written about Sohbia Khan, Chrissie Azzopardi, and three days ago, we remembered thirty-four-year-old Jacqueline Barratt.
Today we remember a lady who was a pillar of society and had a heart of gold – like 94% of other women, killed by a man she knew. Her name was Anne Dunkley, 67, a retired teacher who had been involved in various youth groups and was a church-warden at her local church.
She lived in the Solihull area to the east of Birmingham, not far from the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham airport.
Anne was attacked and killed by her nephew Gareth Emery who hit her with a shovel inflicting serious head wounds which eventually lead to her death. Quickly arrested and charged Emery’s trial was held in May 2016 with the Birmingham Mail reporting this:
THE nephew of former teacher Anne Dunkley has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her in an horrific attack branded “brutal beyond belief”. Gareth Emery, 25, from Clinton Road, Shirley punched and stamped on his defenceless aunt, finally using a garden spade to hit her until she died. The retired deputy headteacher, from Elmdon Road, Marston Green, was attacked in her own home and suffered 44 separate injuries to her head and body. At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday afternoon Judge Mark Wall QC handed Emery life imprisonment for manslaughter, with a minimum nine-year term.
“Your actions were like that of a wild dog,” he said. “The attack was brutal beyond belief. You hit her with your hands, your feet, and a garden spade, leaving her with 44 separate injuries to her body. You are a dangerous man and although I take into account you were suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time, you had a history of violence. You have ripped her family apart. Anne Dunkley was loved by the many people who knew her. Her death has devastated her family and friends.”
Nothing could be more true.
At the time of Anne’s murder her churches, Facebook page received hundreds of posts including:
“We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family, friends and community who grieve the loss of Anne Dunkley”.
“Anne contributed so much to St. Leonard’s, scouts, guides, the Parish Hall, as a school governor and to the community of Marston Green. Most of all to her family”.
“Words cannot express our sadness. We pledge we will do all we can to support the very many who mourn”.
“We pray that all who grieve will be held in God’s loving arms”.
“May Anne rest in peace and grant her life eternal. Amen.”
And one of Anne’s former pupil wrote: “Sleep tight Mrs Dunkley … you taught many generations of kids at Hatchford School throughout your teaching career me included .. many many hearts have been saddened on the news of your passing .. may you rest in peace xxx
Anne was for certain a loving, giving woman.
Killed by a man she knew – in her own home.
Anne Dunkley 1948 – 2015
#EveryThreeDays
Authored by Steph @PlaceSteph
