April 30, 2024
Clare Bernal: Stalking, Domestic Violence, and the Fight for Justice I Ep. 37
Witness the harrowing story of Clare Bernal, a young woman whose life was tragically ended after enduring escalating stalking and domestic abuse. In this episode of the 1 in 3 Podcast, Ingrid uncovers the chilling sequence of events that transformed a seemingly normal workplace relationship with Michael Pech at Harvey Nichols into a life-shattering nightmare.
Despite systemic failures to protect her, Clare’s story ignited a powerful movement led by her mother, Patricia Bernal, which ultimately led to the criminalization of stalking in the UK in 2012. Even Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged the gravity of stalking, cementing Clare’s legacy as a catalyst for legal change.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How stalking and domestic abuse can escalate into life-threatening situations
- The systemic gaps that often leave victims vulnerable
- The emotional toll on families and communities affected by violence
- How advocacy can drive legislative and societal change
- Lessons from Clare Bernal’s story to protect and empower potential victims
This episode is a poignant reminder of the power of resilience, advocacy, and the importance of standing up against abuse before it’s too late.
Sources
https://www.dvccct.org/stalking/#:~:text=Stalking%20Increases%20Lethality%20in%20Domestic,the%20year%20before%20their%20murder
https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/clare-bernal
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/16nrbyw/on_september_13th_2005_22yearold_clare_bernal_was/?rdt=35780&onetap_auto=true
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZx1tgfk-s
https://www.gov.uk/arrested-your-rights/how-long-you-can-be-held-in-custody#:~:text=You%20do%20not%20have%20to,commit%20another%20offence
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/promissory_note#:~:text=A%20promissory%20note%20is%20an,the%20maker%20of%20the%20promise
1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.
If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.
Contact 1 in 3:
- Send your emails to 1in3podcast@gmail.com
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Thank you for listening!
Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe
00:00 - Stalking and Domestic Violence Homicide Risk
09:37 - Campaigning Against Stalking
WEBVTT
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Hi Warriors, welcome to 1 in 3.
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I'm your host, ingrid.
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If you remember, back in my first episode I detailed a lot of the terminology involved with domestic violence.
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One of those terms was stalking.
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This is definitely an under-recognized form of domestic violence.
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Similar to other violent situations, the behavior typically escalates, and that is the case in the story of Claire Bernal.
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According to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, domestic violence victims who experience both physical abuse and stalking behaviors have a higher risk for homicide 76% of all domestic violence homicide victims had also been stalked in the year before their murder.
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Claire Bernal was originally from Tunbridge Wells, kent, united Kingdom.
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In her youth, claire was always fascinated with makeup and fashion.
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While in Kent she took courses focusing on beauty consulting and theater makeup.
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Barely in her 20s she moved to Dulwich London and secured a job with the luxury department store Harvey Nichols.
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Naturally, she settled into her position as a skincare expert.
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She was a beautiful young woman living a good life in downtown London with her two flatmates.
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Michael Peck was a 30-year-old man who had also recently moved to London, holding a dual citizenship in Czech and Slovakia.
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Michael was a former Slovakian soldier in Czech and Slovakia.
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Michael was a former Slovakian soldier After working at the American Embassy in Bratislava, he acquired a student visa and moved to London in 2003.
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He found a position in security for Harvey Nichols in 2004.
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He asked Claire out for their first date in January 2005.
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Now Michael was married but going through a divorce.
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His wife remained in Slovakia.
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Initially, claire appreciated Michael's attention, but he lavished it on a bit too much and very early in the relationship the two had only gone on three dates over the course of three weeks.
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In that short time span, michael had already become very jealous and controlling.
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He asked Claire to spend all her free time with him, foregoing plans with friends.
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He even suggested she not go visit family.
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While Claire viewed the short relationship as carefree and casual, michael wasted no time professing his love for her.
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All of it made Claire very uncomfortable and left her feeling suffocated.
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Following a trip to Slovakia in February, michael returned to London and had Claire meet him at the airport.
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She brought him back to her flat with the intention of sending him to complete his journey home alone, but Michael refused to leave.
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He insisted he needed to stay the night so he wouldn't have to drag his luggage across London.
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He finally agreed to go to the train station only because Claire said she would walk him there.
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But once the two arrived, michael refused to get on the train there.
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But once the two arrived, michael refused to get on the train.
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This stunt, along with the rest of Michael's actions leading up to it, was enough for Claire.
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She officially ended the relationship.
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Claire turned and walked back to her flat, with Michael following steps behind.
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She ran in and left him standing outside, and that's where he remained for the next two hours.
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While he continued to call and text her, one of Claire's flatmates went outside and attempted to convince Michael to go home.
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At that point, michael began verbally assaulting and shouting at her.
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Eventually, michael did leave, only to return the following day with flowers.
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Claire did not speak to him, nor did she accept the flowers.
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The gift was left outside for a week.
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While at work, michael would be seen staring at Claire.
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He used the mirrors to watch her movements.
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Michael would approach Claire at her counter to ask her to take him back.
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He loved her and he knew she loved him too.
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Michael involved their co-workers, asking them to talk to Claire on his behalf.
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She pleaded with him to stop.
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She told him that she in fact did not love him, to which he replied yes, you do.
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You stupid little girl.
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All of this went along with upward of 50 text messages each day.
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Those messages started with we were meant to be together, then evolved to I will kill myself.
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And progressed to if I can't have you, no one will.
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Michael followed Claire to and from work.
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He would take the same train as her.
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Claire was scared.
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She couldn't sleep and began to dread work.
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She was chronically late and distracted.
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She was embarrassed over the ordeal and felt she could not report it to the police as Michael had not physically assaulted her.
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On March 30th, while on her way home, claire noticed Michael waiting for her on the train platform.
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She ran and jumped on the train in an attempt to escape him, but Michael was able to get on the same carriage.
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At the train stop, claire jumped off and ran.
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Michael easily caught up to her and knocked her down.
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Now Claire threatened to report him to the police if he didn't leave her alone.
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Michael countered by saying he would kill her if she did.
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As the next train arrived, claire quickly jumped onto it.
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Michael pounded on the windows as it pulled away.
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These events prompted Claire to finally report Michael's actions to the head of security at Harvey Nichols.
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Review of the security tapes quickly confirmed Claire's accusations.
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Michael was moved to a different floor in the department store.
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It didn't stop his abuse, though.
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Harvey Nichols suspended him and encouraged Claire to report his behavior to the police.
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She did.
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During the Harvey Nichols investigation it was discovered that Michael had asked a colleague what the maximum sentence for murder was in the United Kingdom.
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He was immediately fired and arrested.
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Because Michael had a previously clean record, he was released on bail with a condition he would not attempt to contact Claire.
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Soon he was found standing outside her flat again.
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Claire was forced to move.
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She changed her phone number, but Michael was resourceful.
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He was discovered outside her new home.
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He was once again arrested and charged, this time with threatening to kill.
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You don't want to know, but I'm going to tell you anyway.
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He was released on bail again.
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Quick interjection here Bail in the United Kingdom is not like the United States.
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There is no monetary charge.
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They are simply released depending on the offense and the previous record.
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There are certain terms that may be set and the accused is required to return to court when told.
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In the United States a person may be released on bail, which involves either payment of a set amount or using a promissory note.
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The specifics of bail vary from state to state.
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So what did Michael do while out on bail?
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For the second time In June, he went to Slovakia and spent a significant amount of time at a firing range.
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He took a gun training class and passed exams to eventually be granted a license.
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He purchased a handgun and registered it in Slovakia.
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Once everything was in order, michael returned to London via ferry and coach.
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Security never searched and was never alerted to Michael's carefully concealed weapon, and Claire was never notified.
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Michael was out on bail, returning to court six weeks after his last appearance, on August 31st.
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Michael pleaded guilty to harassment.
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The charges related to threatening to kill were drops.
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Following his plea hearing, michael was once again you guessed it released on bail.
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While preparations began for his sentencing hearing.
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Learning of the latest details, claire felt relieved.
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She told her mother, patricia Thank God it's over.
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Now.
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Finally, people will believe me and I can get on with my life.
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Just two weeks later, on September 13, 2005, claire and her colleague were nearing the end of their shifts.
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It was 7.50 pm and the store closed at 8.
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The two were tidying their counter as there were only a few people left in the area.
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Claire's colleague noticed a shadow moving out of the corner of her eye moving out of the corner of her eye.
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As she focused on the man standing behind Claire, michael held up a gun and shot her in the back of the head.
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Claire fell to the ground where he shot her three more times in the face.
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He then turned the gun on himself.
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With Patricia Bernal and others campaigning, a new law was passed in 2012 outlawing stalking and making it a stand-alone offense.
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Prime Minister David Cameron, who signed the law, was quoted saying it makes life a living hell for victims breaking up relationships, forcing the victims to move house, making them feel they are being watched 24 hours a day.
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This is why we are explicitly criminalizing stalking to make sure that justice is done, protect the victims and show beyond doubt that stalking is a crime.
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Thank you for listening.
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I will be back with another story for you.
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Until then, stay strong and, wherever you are in your journey, always remember you are not alone.
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Find more information, register as a guest or leave a review by going to the website 1in3podcastcom.
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That's the number 1-I-N-3podcastcom.
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Follow 1in3 on Instagram, facebook and Twitter at 1in3podcast.
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To help me out, please remember to rate, review and subscribe.
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1in3 is a .5 Pinoy production Music written and performed by Tim Crow.
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