Amongst those lost is 29-year-old Jessica, who was bashed to
death by her former partner of more than six years.
According to llawarra
Mercury report The danger of ignoring
domestic violence, forensic pathologist Donald Ritchey concluded Jessica
had died due to several forceful kicks and in sentencing the perpetrator to 23
years jail, Justice Ewan Crawford noted there was an imprint of his shoe left
on her chest.
Read the full article here.
The article states that there were people closed to her that
knew of the abuse but often did not call the police, fearful it would intensify
the situation.
The article focuses attention on how we as a community –
friends, family, neighbours – should act against domestic violence as soon as
we are made aware of it.
As a male-led campaign that believes that most men are good
and that good men abhor such violence, White Ribbon works to stop this insidious
violence.
The victims are not merely statistics; they are wives,
sisters, mothers, daughters and friends. Good men cannot and will not sit on
the sidelines while those they love are at risk of harm.
And thousands of good men who have sworn the White Ribbon
oath have got your back, so don’t stay silent about violence. Make a stand,
speak up and swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence
against women at www.whiteribbon.org.au.
My heart goes out to Donna and of course Jessica's children. It is beyond horrific that this young woman died in this way. We all have a responsibility to speak out every time we're aware of domestic violence - regardless of the response we may receive. Domestic Violence will only stop when enough people speak out, and challenge attitudes of control and violence in their family members, friends etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for those who loved Jessica.