Ellen Marshall: Woman who was victim in 'worst case of domestic violence' dies 2 years after horror
SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE: A woman died almost two years after being doused in petrol and set ablaze by her partner, which was reportedly one of the "worst cases of domestic violence" the police had ever seen. Ellen Marshall, 43, was drenched in petrol while seated in an armchair, where she sustained severe, permanently altering injuries.
Her boyfriend, Leigh Pateman, 43, had set her on fire and left her for dead in his Skegness, Lincolnshire, house. When she arrived at the hospital, she had up to 90% of her body burned, lost numerous fingers, and undergone a 12-hour surgery. Doctors estimated Marshall's probability of life after the horrifying tragedy to be less than 50 percent since she needed artificial ventilation to breathe. Marshall who required 24-hour care suffered burns to the upper half of her body that ranged from 80% to 90% of her body's surface area and had a permanently altered facial appearance.
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Ellen Marshall's tragic death
Unfortunately, she died on March 11 in the East Midlands Nottingham City Hospital, two years after the attack on April 22, 2021. Coroner Paul Smith stated that the actual medical reason for her death has not yet been determined. A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said, "Ellen Marshall’s passing has been brought to our attention, which is a dreadful loss. The Coroner is currently in charge of the inquiry, and we are working together with both of them and the Crown Prosecution Service in order to carry out an autopsy," as per Daily Mail. The inquest has been scheduled for September 10.
'One of the worst cases of domestic violence we have seen'
This was "one of the worst cases of domestic violence we have seen," Lincolnshire Police added. Pateman was given an extended term of 21 years in jail in March 2022 for using a jerry can full of petrol and a lighter to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Pateman left Marshall for dead on the floor after pouring just two bowls of water over her as a means of damage control. He then fled on his bike. He was found at his mother's house covered in soot and required burn treatment before being taken into custody. Pateman claimed the petrol had been bought for his strimmer and that he had only poured the petrol on Marshall to scare her. He said that he was merely playing about with his lighter when she caught on fire. It was also revealed that he had kept the jerry can in the apartment and had previously threatened Marshall with gasoline.