strangulation a felony / Woman Shot In Murder-Suicide Had Obtained Restraining Order / NH System Failed

NH RSA 631 - NON-FATAL STRANGULATION BECOMES LAW 1-11-11

March 26, 2010

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Family members of a Manchester woman killed by her husband are speaking out as they begin to strengthen laws that could protect victims of domestic violence. Melissa Charbonneau was gunned down by her husband Jonathan in October 2009. 

 The murder was preceded two days earlier by a vicious beating that included strangulation. Now there is an effort in Concord to make strangulation a felony. 
In severely beating his wife Missy, Jonathan Charbonneau put his hands around her neck and choked her until his daughter intervened. After his arrest he was charged with misdemeanors and bailed out of jail while Missy was still in the hospital. 

http://www.wmur.com/news/21403635/detail.html

Police Say Woman Accused Husband Of Choking Her

POSTED: 12:31 pm EDT October 23, 2009
UPDATED: 11:25 am EDT October 24, 2009

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Police said a man who shot and killed his wife before killing himself had been arrested earlier in the week for allegedly choking his wife and throwing her down some stairs.

The Cantins will testify Tuesday on behalf of the Assault by Strangulation bill. If it passes, New Hampshire would join 22 other states that have made non-fatal strangulation a felony.The case fits in with a growing awareness nationwide that non-fatal strangulation is a leading indicator for homicide between intimate partners. That's why the Cantins are backing a bill in Concord to make strangulation a felony. It was when Missy came back to retrieve some belongings from the house with her father two days later that Charbonneau was there with a rifle. He shot and killed her, wounded her father John Cantin, and then turned the gun on himself.