Anti-violence hope of victim’s father

Jun 30 2009 by Laura Caroe, The Journal

A FATHER who has made it his mission to help murder victims’ families is backing our knife-crime campaign.

David Hines has praised Northumbria Police, Creative Arts North and The Journal who have teamed up to launch a songwriting competition to encourage youngsters to spread an anti-violence message among their peers.

We are asking young people in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland to compose entries for our No Knives No Excuses songwriting competition.

After his 23-year-old daughter Marie was killed by her boyfriend in her home, Mr Hines vowed something good would come out of her death.

Marie was strangled with a dressing gown cord and beaten about the head by her violent ex-boyfriend Anthony Davison, 17 years ago.

Davison, of Salem Street, Jarrow, South Tyneside, the father of Marie’s child, was jailed for life.

The family had suffered months of anxiety as Davison carried out a reign of terror, with countless threats against them and their property.

Mr Hines, a former magistrate who founded the National Victims’ Association, said: “Our charity fully supports the campaign as it is proof that creating something is far better than destroying something.