London man charged with manslaughter in case that links alleged domestic abuse to suicide | UK news

A man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the death of a woman in 2020, police said, in a rare case of domestic violence allegations linked to suicide.

Gillian Morand, 36, died in Bexley, south-east London, and the inquest concluded she took her own life.

Allegations that Morand had previously been subjected to domestic violence emerged and Scotland Yard launched an investigation.

Seyhan Assaf, 45, of Berwick Crescent, Sidcup, south-east London, is charged with manslaughter and oppressive or controlling behavior.

The Metropolitan police said it was alleged that Morand was abused for a “significant period” and that this contributed to her death in March 2020.

DCI Dan Whitten said: “This is a complex investigation in which very few charges of this nature have been confirmed across the country.”

He asked anyone who had contact with Morand in the decade before his death to contact law enforcement.

Assaf will appear at Bromley magistrates court on Saturday.

CPS London homicide senior prosecutor Samantha Yelland said: “We have decided to prosecute Seyhan Assaf for manslaughter and controlling or coercive behaviour.

“This decision comes after working closely with the Metropolitan police who are investigating the death of Gillian Morand.

“Our prosecutors worked to determine that there was sufficient evidence to bring these charges to trial and that it was in the public interest to initiate a criminal investigation.”