Christine Rawle, a 69-year-old horse whisperer, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years for the murder of her husband, Ian Rawle. The incident occurred in August 2022 at their home in Braunton, Devon. During the trial, it was revealed that the couple had a troubled marriage, and Christine Rawle was accused of attacking her husband with a knife in a fit of temper during an argument. Despite claims of self-defense due to alleged years of physical and psychological abuse, the jury convicted her of murder after three hours of deliberation.
Some details
It’s reported that their relationship was troubled even before the got married. Each of them made five reports to the police before marriage over domestic violence.
The murder took place at their smallholding at Knowle. They began to argue while he helped to muck out her horses. In a fit of temper, it is said that she planted a long knife between Ian Rawle’s shoulder blades as he walked away from her. She walked away as he begged her to remove the knife from his back.
As she walked away, he followed for a hundred yards before collapsing. Before that she tended to her dogs and made a phone call to a friend. Eventually Mr Rawle bled to death. It would appear that he could have been saved if they had been a timely intervention by a medical crew.
She then phoned her adult daughter to tell her that she had stabbed her husband. Her daughter then called the police. When the police officers arrived, she immediately confessed that she had killed her husband and that she had “just snapped”. She added that she “took his life because he was horrible to me. He terrorised. It was continuous. I wanted out.”
Although at her trial the jury believed the prosecution barrister that she was not the timid, defenceless wife but a person who was capable of bullying and did so.
What is horse whispering?
Horse whispering, also known as “horse gentling” or “equine communication,” is an intuitive practice that involves establishing a deep, harmonious connection with horses through non-verbal means. It’s not about literally whispering to horses, but rather using keen observation, patience, and empathy to communicate effectively with equines. This method allows humans to understand and train horses by responding to their body language and energy signals, fostering a relationship built on mutual trust and respect.
Sources: The Times, Horsemanship Journal.
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