Memorial plaque for woman murdered by partner

A "black and blue" plaque has been unveiled in memory of a woman who was murdered by her partner.

Ross McCullam killed 23-year-old Megan Newborough, from Nuneaton, at his home in Coalville, Leicestershire, on 6 August 2021.

Campaign organisation Killed Women, which is behind the black and blue plaques, said murderers who killed in the home were typically sentenced to about 10 fewer years in prison than those who killed on the street.

The plaques honoured "women whose lives were robbed of a future after they were murdered by a man", the organisation said.

The plaques are inscribed with the woman’s name, their lifespan and the words “killed here” along with the sentence given to their killer and the words “murder is murder, change the law”.

McCullam admitted manslaughter but denied murder and was given a life sentence. He was told he would serve at least 23 years.

In March 2023, The Court of Appeal rejected a bid to increase his prison term.

“This black and blue plaque was made to highlight the injustice that means Megan's killer gets 10 years off his sentence, because it happened at home,” Ms Newborough’s parents Anthony and Elaine said in a statement on Wednesday.

They called for the government to honour a pledge made by the previous government to address the disparity in the sentencing guidelines.

A total of seven black and blue plaques were unveiled in Westminster on Tuesday.

“We want the symbolism of these plaques to raise this issue in the House of Commons,” a spokesperson for Killed Women said.

Standard blue plaques are traditionally sited on the side of some buildings to signify that a famous person once lived there, commemorating the lives and talents of the former residents.

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