Four Corners: July 30

Next Monday on Four Corners, “A Matter of Life and Death”, reported by Quentin McDermott looks at how authorities are failing to protect women and children in mortal danger, and failing to prevent their partners’ homicidal rage.

Each year over 130 Australians, mostly women, are murdered by the people closest to them. Governments claim they are doing everything to stop violence in the home.

Reporter Quentin McDermott tells the story of women targeted by violent men and let down by the systems meant to protect them.

Andrea was a loving mother in a long-term marriage. In 2008, she finally left her husband alleging cruelty and violence. Over the next year, despite serving a jail term during this time, her husband’s threats of lethal violence escalated. His threats were so persistent, and the police response so ineffective, that Andrea told friends she knew she was going to be killed.

“I think that’s when it dawned on her… what his intentions actually were. And we walked out of there and she was like, nah, he’s going to kill me. They (the police) are not going to help me.” –Andrea’s cousin, Dianne

She was right. On January 12, 2009, Andrea was stabbed to death on the front lawn of a relative’s home.

But Andrea’s story is not unique. There is significant evidence that victims of domestic violence are not being adequately protected, even when they make their situation known to the people who should protect them.

Four Corners also tells the story of a young Japanese woman who, after a working holiday in Australia, married a Perth man and raised their two young children. She was also subjected to violence in her home, and it became clear to friends that her husband was violent and unstable.

When she went missing, police refused to accept she was in danger. Twelve days after she disappeared her decomposing body was finally discovered in her former husband’s house.

The nightmare for those closest to her continues. Even though her husband has been sent to jail, he has been taking parenting classes and is applying for custody of their children, when he’s eligible for release on parole next year.

Monday 30th July at 8.30pm on ABC1.