Victoria’s shock domestic violence death toll revealed

As authorities battle a wave of violence against women in their own homes, new statistics can for the first time reveal the shocking extent of deadly domestic violence in our state.

One family violence victim is killed or the target of an ­attempted murder every ­fortnight in Victoria.

As authorities battle a wave of violence against women in their own homes, the Herald Sun can reveal the state’s ­horror domestic violence toll.

A total of 285 family violence victims, including children, were killed or the subject of murder attempts or conspiracies in the decade to September last year.

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And more than 340,000 crimes, including murder, ­assault and rape, were flagged as family violence-related.

Shock Victoria Police ­figures show 44 assaults, ­including sexual assaults, were reported to the force each day on average. In that time, breaches of family violence orders — ­designed to protect victims — rose almost tenfold.

Kelly Thompson.was stalked and stabbed to death by her former partner. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Yazmina D'Argent, 2, was killed by her dad Ramazan Acar.

Nationally, 14 women have died already this year, igniting the ongoing battle to reduce men’s violence toward women.

Assistant Commissioner Dean McWhirter, of the force’s Family Violence Command, said the number of women ­facing violence daily in Victoria was staggering.

And he said the 341,884 family violence incidents ­recorded in Victoria over the decade was just a fraction of the overall offending.

One ­reported incident can include multiple alleged offences and victims.

“At lot of people in the community sadly face traumatic circumstances every day ­because they cannot or are ­unable to reach out,” he said.

Police recorded 162,390 physical and sexual assaults across the state over the decade, with females the victims in 85 per cent of cases.

Those aged 20-29 were found to be most at risk.

Cathy Browning was stabbed to death by her husband Brian Browning in December 2013.

Katherine Haley was killed by her partner Shane Robertson in March 2018.

The greatest rise in offending came in breaches of family violence orders.

Last year alone, there were over 20,000 breaches of such orders — equal to 56 a day. Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the rise in breaches showed police were cracking down on offenders more than ever. “We’re quicker to arrest them now and lock them up, which is making a difference,” he said.

Other disturbing figures showed there were 1399 ­abduction offences and 2596 weapons and explosive offences over the decade.

Families of women killed by their partners in Victoria say the figures show the system has a long way to go to ­adequately protect victims.

Killer bikie Brandon ­Osborn, 38, shot dead his girlfriend, Karen Belej, 31, in 2016 while subject to an order which prevented him from holding a gun licence. Her brother, Chris, said: “The ­justice ­process needs to change.”

The brother of Rekiah O’Donnell, 22, shot dead by her partner, Nelson Lai, 38, in Sunshine in 2013, agreed.

“Perpetrators break IVOs and go to court over domestic violence cases, ­including ­severe ones like ours where someone is killed, and they get a slap on the wrist,” he said.

Rekiah O'Donnell was fatally shot by her partner Nelson Lai in Sunshine in 2013.

Karen Belej was murdered by her bikie boyfriend Brandon Osborn in Mildura in 2016.

Kara Doyle was shot and killed by her boyfriend Mehmet Torun in April 2013.

Fatima Batool was allegedly killed by her husband Muhammad Jaffar Hassan in their Hampton Park home in July 2018.

“There is no point if they don’t protect the people they are meant to protect.

“The justice system protects perpetrators, it needs a big red reset button. Criminals should go away for the time they ­deserve.”

The Royal Commission into Family Violence handed down 227 recommendations — all accepted by the state government — to improve outcomes for victims.

Domestic Violence Victoria policy manager Alison MacDonald said it was important for the justice system to focus on the risk family violence perpetrators posed to family members.

She expects fewer deaths in years to come.

“Over time, we will see fewer people dying because of the royal commission implementations, but these things take time,” she said.

She said it was important that victims felt supported and heard. “Those at risk need a safe place to go, where when they put their hand out there is someone there to respond,” she said.

1800 RESPECT is a 24/7 national domestic violence and sexual assault crisis support line

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