Press Red feature in The Mirror

Our thanks to Jess Taylor and The Mirror for allowing Lily share the story of her cousin Ziggi’s murder 20-years ago, helping us to raise awareness of this issue so that we can #BreaktheSilence to #StoptheViolence.

This is all part of Press Red‘s phenomenal campaign which is encouraging men to do something if they see another man making a woman feel uncomfortable.

When Ziggi Fisher died at the hands of her abusive ex at just 19 years old, it rocked her entire family. But 20 years on, her cousin Lily is making a bid to end violence against women for good.

Ziggi Fisher was the life and soul of the party. As a teen, she lit up any room she walked into and had a vibrant energy that imprinted on those around her.

Her cousin, Lily Newman, describes Ziggi as “so sassy”, “inquisitive” and “cheeky.” At family events, she’d always be the first person on the dancefloor, encouraging others to join her.

But the world was robbed of Ziggi’s vibrant charm in 2000 when, at just 19 years old, she was murdered by her violent ex-boyfriend.

David Weller, then 35, from Somerset, strangled Ziggi and dumped her body in a country lane in Oxfordshire before covering it with leaves, shortly after she ended their relationship.

Despite denying murder, and claiming he strangled her in a fit of rage, Weller was found guilty in 2001 and jailed for life.

The court heard that, just days before her death, Weller had told Ziggi: “I will never lose you.

“I will kill you and then kill myself. You cannot hide. I will hunt you down.”

Excerpt from mirror.co.uk

Read the full story on The Mirror