When Domestic Violence Laws Don't Work

"Why Didn't they Stop Him?"

By Phoebe Zerwick
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the August 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

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Vernetta Cockerham did everything by the book. She took her abusive husband to court. Got a protective order. Reported his violations to the police. Yet in the end, none of that was enough.

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In the fifth year of fighting for justice over her daughter's horrific murder and a life-threatening assault by her estranged husband--tragedies that could have been prevented if domestic violence laws had been enforced???Vernetta Cockerham's case ended w

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