VICTORIA’S peak domestic violence body has described the death of a Port Fairy mother at the hands of her partner as “absolutely horrific” and says violence against women is always a choice.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Justin Garry Turner, 32, of Elizabeth Street, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court sitting at Warrnambool to killing Kylie Jane Cay and breaching an intervention order by assaulting her, including hitting her with a hammer to the feet and dragging her by the hair.
Turner was jailed for 12 years with a minimum nine years to serve before being eligible for parole. In sentencing Justice Kevin Bell said the crime revealed so much about the horrific individual and social consequences of domestic violence.
“Three children see their mother covering up the cause of her bruises and are subsequently orphaned, their future children never to know their grandmother,” he said. “A woman obtains more protection in a kennel with the family dog than in her own home with her male partner.
“Awaiting an ambulance, an elderly mother labours to revive to life the cold body of the now-adult child whom she birthed, left not just with grief but guilt. An elderly father is angry, bewildered and bereft.”
Justice Bell said Ms Cay and all other women had an inviolable human right to life and to equality. "They look to the law for protection from men who would perpetrate crimes of assault or homicide upon them in a domestic setting by reason of failing to control their anger, aggression and rage,” she said.
“The courts must respond appropriately through the sentencing process when those standards are severely or seriously breached, as they have been in this case.”
Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive officer Fiona McCormack said for domestic violence to be fully addressed there could be no excuses.
“The details of this case are absolutely horrific,” she said.
“Violence is a choice. It’s really, really important it’s understood that from the evidence based research on what drives violence against women. Being under the influence (of drugs) or a fit of rage is not anything related to family violence.
“Violence against women is a choice and most men make a choice – no matter what the circumstances, no matter how unhappy they are - not to be violent and most women do to.”
She said the data showed almost two women were murdered every week over a 12 month period and that was the tip of the iceberg.
- Anyone in immediate danger should contact triple-zero. For help call Emma House on 5561 1934, Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 1800 015 188
