Khaberni - In a case described by the court as a "real embodiment of Charles Dickens' novels" in its cruelty, the British jury convicted Mandy Wixson (56 years old) of detaining a woman with learning difficulties as a "domestic slave" for 25 years, amid living conditions unfit for humans.
The tragedy began in 1996, when the victim (known as "K") was only sixteen years old; she was handed over to Wixson in Tewkesbury, Gloucester County, due to a weak family relationship, and then she completely disappeared from the outside world. Over the course of a quarter-century, Wixson's crowded and filthy house in the town of Tewkesbury turned into a closed prison, cutting off "K" from all forms of public life.
The arts of torture.. flogging, shaving hair and deprivation of food
The trial sessions revealed a horrific record of physical and psychological abuses, with the prosecution detailing chilling details, where the victim was forced to clean the house crawling on her hands and knees for hours, resulting in thick and painful layers of skin on her limbs.
She was regularly beaten with broomsticks, "bleach" (chlorine) was poured on her face, and dishwashing liquid was put in her mouth as a form of punishment.
The victim lost most of her teeth and suffered from abscesses and chronic infections left untreated for years, and her hair was forcibly shaved to humiliate her, according to "BBC".
The coincidence that broke the chain
In March 2021, this nightmare ended after one of Wixson's children reported his concerns about the safety of the missing woman to authorities. When the police raided the house, they found the victim in a state of severe malnutrition, trembling with fear inside a room described as a "prison cell", in a house inhabited by 13 people, most of whom turned a blind eye to her suffering.
Justice in the face of denial
Despite the damning evidence and medical testimonies that confirmed the presence of scars and chronic pain, Wixson, a mother of 10 children, denied all charges against her and showed no remorse. However, the judiciary convicted her of charges of illegal detention, forced labor, and physical injury assault, with the final judgment expected to be pronounced in March (March) next year.
New Hope
From the rubble, the victim "K" began an amazing recovery journey; she now lives with a foster family and studies in college, in an attempt to reclaim the years that were stolen from her. The police confirmed that her notable improvement reflects an "exceptional willpower" after decades of darkness.
