Shoes and flowers left in silent protest for Doncaster's female murder victims

Bunches of daffodils and pairs of shoes bearing the names of women killed both locally and further afield were left on the steps of Doncaster Crown Court in College Road yesterday.

The protest, organised by Women’s Lives Matter, was aimed at pressing home the message of ‘not one woman more’ following the recent death of Sarah Everard in London.

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with her murder.

There were also shoes and cards bearing the name of Doncaster woman Amy-Leanne Stringfellow, who was brutally murdered at a house in Balby last summer by Terence Papworth who later killed himself in jail before he could be put on trial over the killing.

However, Amy-Leanne’s family did not support the protest, aimed at pointing out how the pair – and Doncaster’s other female murder victims – were failed by the justice system.

Banners proclaiming ‘Women’s Lives Matter’ and Not One Woman More were also attached to railings outside the court.

In a Facebook post, a statement shared by Women’s Lives Matter said: “Do vigils for murdered women, be it shoes, flowers or tears change anything? No.

“But does trying to build a movement across all areas of society to push and fight for change? Yes.

“But how do you build a movement? You start a conversation. You start with some action, something that says 'we see what is going on, we see the injustice and we won't stand for it'.

“We are a political campaign that demands services to help women to leave abuse, we demand democratic control of the police and courts, we demand higher benefits and higher pay so that women can afford to leave abusive situations.

“These practical things are what will help to protect women.

“A vigil, a show of strength and opposition, that is merely the starting point.”

People laid flowers and pairs of shoes throughout the day as local people were urged to show their support for the campaign.