Reasons behind setting up the trust.
In October 2001, Cassandra McDermott’s 19 year old life was taken at her home in London. After months of police investigation her ex-boyfriend was charged with her murder and brought to trial. However, he was subsequently acquitted due to a lack of forensic evidence.
When he formed a relationship with Cassandra she was only 14 years old, whilst he was 18. The relationship between them lasted two years, but it was only after the trial that his previous history of violent and abusive behaviour was disclosed: at the age of 16 he had been convicted and imprisoned for a violent offence towards another young woman.
Apart from immeasurable grief, Cassandra’s death led to a great deal of soul-searching and discussion amongst her family and friends about how this tragedy could have been prevented and, how other young people could be protected from a similar fate.
Since then our journey has been to highlight the early signs and very real dangers of domestic violence in adolescent relationships. Domestic violence is largely conceptualised as occurring between adult partners or within a family setting.
The trusties are drawn from friends and family,
| Jennifer McDermott | Cassandra’s mother |
| Sophia Springer | Cassandra’s sister |
| Andrea McDermott | Cassandra’s sister |
| Jehan Chaudhri | Cassandra’s friend |
| Jutta ten Herkel | Jehan’s mother and a family friend |
| Clarence Thompson | Family member |
| Evon Casey | Family member |
| Joan Casey | Family member |
| Norma Husten-McDavid | Family friend |