Take a Stand: Number of women killed in Victoria doubles in 2016
TAKE A STAND: THE number of women killed in Victoria almost doubled in a year, with horrific figures showing a woman or child died every 12 days in 2016. It has led to calls to get tough on child killers.
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THE number of women killed in Victoria has almost doubled in a single year.
Horrific figures from the Coroners Court show a woman — or a child — was killed every 12 days, on average, in 2016.
There were 21 probable and possible homicides of women last year, up from 11 in 2015. Nine children were killed, including two infant boys slain within a week.
The alarming child toll prompted Victims of Crime Commissioner Greg Davies to call for a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of killing an infant.
“These mongrels deserve life,” the former police officer said.
The State Government, which last year invested half a billion dollars to address family violence, vowed to continue battling the scourge.
“It’s a shocking figure and it isn’t acceptable,” government spokeswoman Crys Ja said of the deaths.
Figures for 2016 released to the Herald Sun by the Coroners Court of Victoria show suspected homicide victims included 15 women and nine children.
The deaths of a further six women, in cases that are still awaiting the outcome of legal proceedings, have been treated as homicides.
Figures from the state’s Crime Statistics Agency show that in 2015, 11 women were the victims of murder or manslaughter, as were 11 children under 18.
Women who Victoria Police say were murdered by their partners last year included White Ribbon ambassador Karen Belej, grandmother Rosemary Gibson and mother of three Zeinab Taleb.
Police took three weeks to identify Ms Taleb, who was found dumped and wrapped in a blanket.
Also among the shocking toll were six-month-old Chayse Dearing, 11-month-old Harro, and 14-month-old Sanaya Sahib. Chayse’s life support was switched off on June 28 after he suffered “unsurvivable injuries”.
His mother was at the shops while he was being cared for at his Glenroy home by Dwayne Lindsey, 33, who has since been charged with murder.
Just seven days later, little Harro — one week shy of his first birthday — died in his Paynesville home. His mother’s boyfriend, Jason Noy, 26, was charged with murder.
Less than three months before, the tiny body of Sanaya Sahib was found in a creek near Northland shopping centre in Preston.
Her mother, Sofina Nikat, was charged with murder after CCTV vision emerged of what appeared to be the young mum pushing her daughter in a stroller toward the park.
The high number of deaths last year followed a horror 2015, which included cases of multiple homicide.
Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack said the issue of family violence was not always treated seriously enough and stopping it would take time.
“In order to stop violence we need to prevent it happening in the first place, we are talking about deeply entrenched long term cultural attitudes that need to be turned around,” Ms McCormack said.
Three young siblings died when a car driven by their mother ploughed into a Wyndham Vale creek.
And a little boy and his grandmother were murdered, allegedly by her husband’s jilted former lover.
Last year, the Andrews Government announced a $572 million family violence package, based on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
“We’re on the way to implementing every single one of (the royal commission’s) 227 recommendations,” Ms Ja said.
Ms McCormack said: “This is an issue that has long been ignored and not treated with the seriousness that is deserved. It’s also a very complex issue. We know the Royal Commission has provided some really excellent recommendations. We know that in order to get that new system in place it’s going to take time.
“We will continue our work until family violence ceases to have a toll on our community.”
SNAPSHOT OF CRIMES IN 2016
JANUARY 12
Karen Chetcuti, 49, Whorouly
Reported missing after failing to come to work at Wangaratta council.
Her body was found in scrubland.
Neighbour Michael Cardamone, 48, charged with her murder.
JANUARY 20
Samantha Kelly, 39, Bendigo
Went missing from her home. Her body was found in bushland three weeks later.
Her housemates, Peter Arthur, 44, Christine Lyons, 45, and Ronald Lyons, 44, were charged with her murder.
FEBRUARY 18
Prasad Somawansa, 48, Hoppers Crossing
Stabbed to death at her home.
Her son’s old school friend, Sigaragh “Steve” Baea, 22, pleaded guilty to murder.
FEBRUARY 20
Victim unnamed
The woman, whom the accused knew, was found dead in a Hallam house.
Luke Sydney McLennan, 33, psychiatric patient at Dandenong Hospital, charged with murder of a woman, 41.
MARCH 13
Jackie Deng, 20, Melton
Mother and law student was found dead in her home.
Her boyfriend, Makeny “Nelson” Banek, 24, was charged with murder.
APRIL 10
Sanaya Sahib, 14 months, Heidelberg West
The toddler was found dead in Darebin Creek.
Her mother, Sofina Nikat, 22, was charged with murder.
APRIL 14
Rosemary Gibson, 62, Traralgon
The grandmother was found dead in her home.
Husband Alan Gibson, 65, was charged with her murder.
APRIL 16
Rachel Tyquin, 44, Sunbury
Suffered multiple stab wounds and was found dead on the nature strip near her home.
Neighbour Eva Whitecross, 53, was charged with murder.
APRIL 26
Violetta Tamvakis, 74, Bentleigh
Found dead in her home after she suffered fatal wounds in an alleged violent assault with a weapon.
Her son, Socrates Tamvakis, 44, was charged with murder.
MAY 1
Karen Belej, 31, Cardross, near Mildura
The White Ribbon supporter was shot in the head at her home.
Boyfriend Brandon Osborn, 36, was charged with her murder.
JUNE 17
Zeinab Taleb, 27, Broadmeadows
Her body was found wrapped in a blanket and dumped in a Dallas park.
Her husband, Bassam Raad, 34, has been charged with murder and three counts of intentionally causing injury to their three children.
JUNE 22
Kylie Cay, 44, Port Fairy
Found dead in her home after she was allegedly assaulted with a hammer.
Partner Justin Turner, 31, charged with recklessly causing serious injury, and later charged with murder.
JUNE 28
Chayse Dearing, six months, Glenroy
Life support turned off after he suffered “unsurvivable injuries” at his home.
Dwayne Lindsey, 33, was charged with his murder.
JULY 5
Harro, 11 months, Paynesville, Gippsland
The boyfriend of the baby’s mother, Jason Noy, 26, was charged with murder.
JULY 15
Victims unnamed
A woman and her four-month old baby died after falling from an internal balcony at a Docklands apartment. The 31-year-old was believed to have lived there above the 20th floor.
OCTOBER 13
Amanda Dawson, 57, Traralgon
The mother of four and nurse died in hospital three days after she was allegedly assaulted by a man she was trying to help in Traralgon.
Lindsay Masatora, 57, is charged with her murder.
NOVEMBER 6
Ashleigh Brown, 25, Craigieburn
She was found dead in her home.
Her husband, Mohamed Naddaf, 37, was charged with killing her after initially being charged with assault and false imprisonment.