How Many Women Have To Die Before We Change?

I heard about this on TV the other night. I just do not understand, as a society, how we can allow these sorts of things to continue and how any judicial system can make excuses or give chances to a "piece of crap " like this man. It makes my blood boil. So here is my rant.

Chloe Wright had her nose broken, a fractured cheekbone and countless bruises. These injuries were caused by the man she thought she could rely on.

A camera in their backyard captured her attacker, Guy Cramp. He punched Wright several times. Then, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her head into a pool fence. All this happened while he was holding her nine-week-old baby.

She had to leave the country because she feared for her life and her children’s. This happened after a Western Australian court granted Cramp bail. He had a 15-year history of convictions. He assaulted two women and attacked a taxi driver. He had a history of violence. This included assault, disorderly behavior, and causing bodily harm.  He also pleaded guilty to the charges of assaulting Chloe.

How he was granted bail is beyond belief.

Magistrates granted bail before. They found Cramp "marginally suitable" for a domestic violence program. This rehabilitation program required community access and could not be completed behind bars.

He missed most sessions and was later removed from the program for not attending.  He cut off his ankle monitor and failed to make a court appearance.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and a police hunt commenced.  Cramp eventually handed himself in 24 hours after he was due to appear in court.  He was charged with breach of bail.  He appeared before a magistrate who once again released him back into the community.

At the final sentencing trial, the magistrate didn't see the CCTV. Police prosecutors only showed a still image.  The reasons for this remain unclear despite public outrage.

His 15-month jail sentence is also beyond belief. Cramp got 15 months in prison for assaulting Wright. He also received eight months for cutting off his ankle monitor. He got only seven more months for ruining someone's life, someone he claimed to care about, than he did for removing his monitor.

Quite clearly, our criminal justice system is broken. The current system is broken. It’s prioritising the freedom of perpetrators ahead of the safety of victims.

Pitiful is the only word to describe this supposed justice.

Domestic violence statistics in this country are shocking. I suspect other countries have similar or worse numbers.

- Nearly 2 in 5 (39% or 175) homicides and related offences involved family and domestic violence.

• Almost half of women, around 45% or 78,100, who experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner didn’t ask for help or advice.

• Two in five women (37% or 574,000) and two in five men (39% or 166,000) who experienced physical or sexual violence from a former partner didn’t seek help.

Every 11 days a woman in Australia is killed by someone she trusted. How can this keep happening?

Hearing about the injustice Chloe faced in court shows why many women stay silent.

Where does speaking up get them except further stress and trauma?

What stops these crimes when offenders know their punishment will be light, at best?  There is no deterrent.  There is no justice.

How many women have to be bashed and psychologically affected for the rest of their lives?

How many women have to die before there is effective change?

What a sad world we live in.

Till next time,

Calvin