Domestic Violence: White Ribbon reveal shock number of women alleged murdered by partners

A shocking number of innocent women have been allegedly killed by a partner in the past four months according to White Ribbon, as domestic violence advocates say the grim tally “shows no signs of slowing down”.

The lives of 25 innocent women in Australia have been allegedly cut short by a partner in the past four months alone according to White Ribbon, as domestic violence advocates say the grim tally “shows no signs of slowing down”.

Police were faced with devastating scenes in the state’s central west in the early hours of Monday morning, when the body of 28-year-old childcare worker Molly Ticehurst was discovered in her Forbes home.

The Daily Telegraph revealed just hours later, her ex-partner of 18 months was charged with her murder, following revelations he had been slapped with an apprehended domestic violence after allegedly raping the woman on multiple occasions.

Molly Ticehurst was found dead at a home in Forbes on Monday morning. Picture: Supplied / Facebook

After Independent MLC Rod Roberts called the situation “an indictment on a broken system”,

White Ribbon Australia chief executive Melissa Perry told the Daily Telegraph that one woman on average was murdered every nine days in Australia.

“This grim tally shows no signs of slowing down,” she said. “White Ribbon Australia expresses our deepest condolences to the family and friends of a 28-year-old woman allegedly murdered in Forbes today.

“We need to mobilise as a nation to say (any violence) is simply unacceptable and won’t be tolerated any longer.”

Melissa Perry, Chief Executive Officer White Ribbon Australia

Ms Perry said the number of women allegedly killed at the hands of their partner “continues to rise”, according to government statistics.

Meanwhile, domestic violence advocates based in the state’s central west said the number of lives allegedly taken at the hands of a partner was “horiffic, but no longer surprising”.

Central west Domestic Violence Collective vice president and Dubbo councillor Jessica Gough said some alleged victims in small regional towns were “living in a state of constant fear of retribution after coming forward”.

Jessica Gough

“We are past the point of shock, domestic violence advocates and (alleged) victims are devastated and disgusted by the number of lives lost,” Ms Gough said.

“Rates of domestic violence in central western NSW is three times higher than the state average, there are these horrific statistics across regional communities that are really hurting.”

“There is a devastating element of fear in the community – but that isn’t stopping them from coming forward.”

A woman has been found dead in a house on Young St, Forbes, on April 22, 2024. Picture: Tijana Birdjan.

Twenty-nine NSW women were alleged killed by a partner in 2023, with a horrific 1356 incidents of sexual assault, according to the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.

Anyone impacted by sexual domestic or family violence can access free, 24/7 and confidential trauma-specialist counselling support on 1800 385 578. This service is also available to support networks of victims including friends, family and professionals supporting them.