!['Growing up like I did, you either survive or you don't'](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1721965870/articles/9WpG6eZY01721976530830/GROWING-UP-LIKE-I-DID-YOU-EITHER-SURVIVE-OR-YOU-DONT.jpg)
Family celebrations for Mina Smallman come burdened with unimaginable pain. Over the Christmas holidays, she is unable even to be at home, for the reminder of the voices and laughter that once filled the house. Above all, however, it is the birthday of her eldest daughter, Bibaa, that she feels most acutely. It marks the moment when, in June 2020 after a Friday night picnic in a park to celebrate Bibaa’s 46th birthday, Bibaa and her 27-year-old sister Nicole (known as Nikki) were stabbed to death in a frenzied attack.
A cherry tree is planted in their memory at Fryent Country Park in Wembley, where 18-year-old Danyal Hussein murdered them in the belief that he needed to “sacrifice” six women every six months. But understandably, Mina finds it too painful to visit. Instead, she prefers to remember her daughters at another cherry tree planted in their memory in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral.
Last month on Bibaa’s birthday, she and her husband of more than 30 years, Chris, drove there together for a day of quiet reflection. But even then, Mina still took the time to arrange a conversation with the Dean of Canterbury to discuss designating an area of the cathedral grounds as a safe space for female survivors of trauma and abuse.
A few weeks prior to that, she spoke at a vigil for the murdered lawyer Zara Aleena, standing alongside Aleena’s family and the parents of Sarah Everard (the 33-year-old who was abducted, raped and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens).
This is the public face of Mina Smallman, whose own devastating loss has compelled her to campaign against violence directed at women and girls, which this week has been declared a “national emergency” in a new report by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. But she has also dedicated her time to battling what she describes as a deep-rooted misogyny and racism within the police service itself.
Denne historien er fra July 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra July 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![Draper hit by sickness in semi-final defeat to Sinner](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/gia7Azxul1725689493594/DRAPER-HIT-BY-SICKNESS-IN-SEMIFINAL-DEFEAT-TO-SINNER.jpg)
Draper hit by sickness in semi-final defeat to Sinner
Jack Draper was sick on court four times as his US Open dream ended in semi-final heartbreak following a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner. The British number one was enjoying an incredible run in New York and had big hopes of emulating Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu by winning the title.
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San Marino's competitive.cherry popped by a toe poke
It goes some way to illustrating the pain and patience that fans of San Marino have had to endure that their winning goalscorer on Thursday night wasn’t even born the last time the landlocked nation tasted international success.
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Carsley's gamble leads to an audition with a difference
One of the game's brightest coaches has the chance to show he's more than a 'safe pair of hands', writes Miguel Delaney
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Warring neighbours have became eternally entwined
England meet the Republic of Ireland today, reigniting a rivalry that has shades of grey between the white and green
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Boeing Starliner heads back to Earth without its crew
Boeing's troubled Starliner space craft undocked from the International Space Station yesterday - without its crew - and began a high-risk return to Earth. The Starliner undocked shortly after 2300 GMT and is scheduled to touch down six hours later in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico.
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Rape and death threats for Afghan taekwondo star
Online abuse of Marzieh Hamidi for criticising the Taliban hit new levels after she denounced her country's cricket team
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Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in 'China's Hawaii'
Super Typhoon Yagi landed in China’s Hainan yesterday, bringing violent gales and heavy rain that triggered widespread power outages, paralysing the tourist island province known as “China’s Hawaii”.
!['I did it': suspect admits to Georgia school shooting](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/VpX9Wc1iD1725688758097/I-DID-IT-SUSPECT-ADMITS-TO-GEORGIA-SCHOOL-SHOOTING.jpg)
'I did it': suspect admits to Georgia school shooting
The suspect accused of killing four people in a mass school shooting in the US, allegedly told investigators \"I did it\" while being questioned. Colt Gray, 14, who has been charged with four felony counts of murder, made the admission while being read his Miranda rights, Barrow County sheriff, Jud Smith, told CNN.
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Inside a city under fire as Russia advances in Donetsk
Residents of Kostyantynivka, perilously close to the front line, tell of the relentless shelling they are facing as Putin's merciless forces tighten their grip on the Ukrainian region
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England head coach will not sing national anthem today
England manager and former Ireland player Lee Carsley says won't sing either anthem for today's match in Dublin, because that's always been his stance throughout his career.