Jane read Sahar’s story last week but felt like she was reading her own. 71989 Picture: VANESSA CHIRCOP
By Vanessa Chircop
WHEN Jane arrived home last fortnight and read the story Striking a Blow in the 4 October edition of the Star – she thought she could have been reading a story about her own life.
The story revealed the life of Sahar – a victim of domestic violence.
Sahar spoke out about the problems with the family court system and the treatment of victims of domestic violence.
The story made Jane angry because she too had been through that system and put through the wringer, once with her first husband and then again with her second.
Twice a victim of domestic violence the Altona resident said there was no empathy for the victims – no empathy from the police or the courts.
“The issue of violence and the protection of the woman was very irrelevant,” Jane said.
Jane remembers in her first marriage being ordered a guard for protection by the judge while in court but being “on your own” once she left.
“They were very concerned that nothing should happen inside the court,” she said.
In her second marriage Jane thought she had finally found happiness – meeting a man who seemed to be the total opposite of her first husband.
The 63-year-old now describes this man as a psychopath – a man who received enjoyment out of seeing her in pain and suffering.
Jane describes intervention orders as a joke – with judges handing down “slaps on the wrist” when breaches are made.
“He breached the order several times but only once did the police charge him,” she said.
“If you go to the police and say ‘he has been calling me several times’ … when you report this – in one instance it took them one year to investigate.
“After one year I received a letter saying the matter was investigated but there was not enough evidence – after one year!”
Jane contacted Star fed up and frustrated hoping her story would help bring about a change to the current “system” dealing with domestic violence.
Names in this story have been changed for privacy reasons.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence call the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 1800 015 188.
