Daughter pledges to tackle domestic abuse in memory of her mother

The daughter of a woman who was killed in a suspected murder-suicide in the south of France last year has pledged to help create a “society free of domestic abuse” in her mother’s memory.

Dawn Kerr and her husband, who were both aged in their 60s, were found dead at their home in Les Pesquiés, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the early afternoon of February 6, 2025.

Police are still investigating but say there is no evidence to suggest another person was involved in their deaths.

Dawn’s daughter, Amanda, says she wants her mother’s “light and kindness” to be her legacy.

In an exclusive interview with STV News, she said her focus is on creating something that reflects who her mother truly was and to change what comes up when people search her name online.

“She was definitely a mum, a mother figure, but also my best friend,” said Amanda. “I mean, we would be on the phone all the time.

“She was just a great mum, she set the standard for me and what I want to be like for my daughter.”

Dawn, a mother and grandmother, worked two jobs to support her family as they grew up in Musselburgh, Midlothian, and they have praised her deep kindness for others “above all else”.

Amanda is now raising funds for women’s aid groups, embracing the adventurous and generous spirit she says her mother was known for.

She’ll be climbing Mount Etna in May – a challenge that she had planned to do to with her mother and brother to mark Dawn’s 60^th birthday.

“She was always smiley, always laughing, always cheerful,” said Amanda. “She just brought this energy and she just always wanted to make other people feel good.

“I think she just always wanted to see me smile and be happy.”

“Mount Etna was always on our list, we had planned to hike it together for her 60th birthday. So instead, I will be doing it on her 58th birthday – May 18, 2026.”

In 2023, police recorded more than 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse in Scotland. Some 83% of victims were female and almost half (49%) of domestic abuse incidents recorded by police were between current partners.

The family have set up a page to share memories of Dawn and raise funds for Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

Amanda said: “In February, our mum was taken from us. There’s no way to put into words how that feels. But we’re hoping this challenge brings some good into the world in her name.”