Mum pleas: 'How many more women need to die'

Mackenzie Anderson was allegedly stabbed 20 times by her abusive ex-partner. Now, her mum wants to change Australia's approach to coercive control.

Mackenzie Anderson was allegedly stabbed 20 times by her abusive ex-partner. Now, her mum wants to change Australia's approach to coercive control.

It was the middle of the night when Tabitha Acret received a call say her daughter had been killed.

Mackenzie Anderson, a 21-year-old mum, had been found unresponsive outside her apartment in Newcastle. 

Tyrone Thompson, 22, who she had an on-and-off relationship with, allegedly stabbed her to death.

“I was away in Cairns with my son for my birthday,” Acret told The Oz. “I got the call at 2am, and had to very quickly try to find a flight to get us home.” 

Mackenzie Anderson with Tyrone Thompson. Picture: Facebook.

Acret made the decision not to tell her eight-year-old son that his sister had died until they had returned home. 

“I couldn’t call as many people as I wanted to, or tell as many people as I wanted to because I needed him not to hear the conversation,” she said. 

“I was very worried we might sit in the lounge at the airport and see it on the news.” 

This Monday would have been Anderson’s 22nd birthday. 

While most parents would be preparing a party, Acret is preparing a city-wide protest alongside hundreds of supporters who hope to change Australia’s coercive control laws. 

Mackenzie Anderson's mother, Tabitha Acret. Picture: Daily Telegraph.

The night she was killed Mackenzie Anderson made a desperate call to triple-0 to report a man had broken into her unit, police will allege. Between that phone call and the time police arrived, she had allegedly been stabbed 20 times.

Thomspson was arrested nearby, and taken to the local hospital with a hand wound. He had allegedly breached an AVO by coming into contact with Anderson.

Anderson was the 14th woman to have died from an alleged domestic violence incident this year. Now, that number could be as high as 22. 

"Many, many women have died from domestic abuse since Mackenzie has, and they haven't gotten the same publicity," Acret said. 

Draft coercive control laws from the NSW government this week indicated that people who repeatedly subject their partner to physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse could face seven years’ jail.

But Acret said that wasn’t enough, and more needs to be done in the way of education.

“So many people have no idea what coercive control is, let alone how to spot it in their own lives,” Acret said. 

“But we need an education programme on what coercive control is at an early stage of life, so people can either stop themselves from doing it, or break away from a relationship where coercive control is present.” 

The NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman has promised Acret he will look into the problems with Anderson's case once it has concluded. But that could be in three years time. 

"How many more women will die in that time before they review the case?" Acret said. "We need change now."

More than $80,000 have been raised by supporters of Anderson, which Acret has put into a trust for her toddler to access when he's an appropriate age. 

If you, or someone you know, needs support please contact 1800 RESPECT.