Darren Reid was fearful his life was in danger. In December 2016, his life ended when his partner, Kate Stone, the mother of his children, doused him in enamel thinner. 95% of his body was burned. He was taken to the Alfred Hospital, where he died, as per The Age newspaper.
Kate Stone claimed that he had protected her and their children from intruders. It was later discovered she had doused him in flammable liquid and set him alight.
According to neighbours, there were constant arguments between the couple. Kate Stone even locked Darren Reid out of the house. He rang his mother from a public phone several times.
It came out during the November 2018 trial of Kate Stone that she had chased Darren Reid down the street armed with a carving knife and had threatened to kill him.
Those who knew Darren said he was terrified for his life, but he did not want the police involved as he feared it might make the situation worse.
Darren Reid Lied To Protect Kate Stone Despite What She Did To Him
What’s more damning is that Darren told police that three people had attacked him. He allegedly told police that a man he didn’t know was responsible for pouring the paint thinner on him and then burning him alive. Also, he told the authorities that three men had attacked him and Kate three weeks before he was set alight.
Kate told police that one man’s name was Gibbo, and the other was named Jason Baxter. The third she didn’t name. However, the court was told that the investigators found the ignition point on the porch at the back of the house. They also found the tin enamel thinner (now empty) over the fence of the neighbour’s property. The lid was found inside the Reid-Stone house.
The Alleged Perpetrators
The men that Kate and Darren alleged tried to kill them were Jason Baxter, and two men called Paul Gibson and Glenn Anderson. All were not involved, as their clothing was not contaminated with the enamel fluid. Their DNA was also not on the tin, leading police to realise that it was a lie, leading them to look at Ms Stone as a suspect.
It would appear that Darren, even as he was dying, was protecting the mother of his children and his killer.
Kate’s lawyer, during the trial, asked the jury to consider the question of motive, what Darren said when he was in the ambulance and what eyewitnesses, i.e. the neighbour, witnessed.
The story of Darren Reid is one of many untold stories that are rarely heard. Male domestic violence victims as not seen as worthy by the media unless the deaths are newsworthy. That needs to change.
The Eerie Resemblance
Darren’s death mirrors the death of Hannah Clarke, who would be killed a few years after him. Two others include Jeffrey Linsdell and Daniel Surtees who both suffered the same fate as Mr Reid. Of course, Darren Jeffrey and Daniel’s stories were not well-publicised. Why? Because they’re men. Hannah’s was because she is a woman.
What makes this so much worse is that was no domestic violence charity that came out in support. Whereas there were dozens that came out for Hannah.
The issue that should be addressed is what is known as the Duluth Model, which proclaims all domestic violence perpetrators are men and only women can be victims.
Journalist Jewell Drury and Family Law Researcher Adam Tate submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control in the Parliament of NSW. They both point out in their report that while there is a load of support for female victims, there is none for male victims. The closest we can find are Men’s Line and Men’s Shed.
Finally, White Ribbon’s stance of “Believe Female victims” just doesn’t work. Why? Because domestic violence isn’t only a women’s issue. It is one every person could experience in their life at some point.
