Monday 9 May 2016

"What would happen if that was your daughter?" Family Friend

The body of a young woman lies on the beach. Two panic stricken men try to work out what to do. One makes a call to '000', the other goes and flags down help.

"He said there was a girl on the beach and they needed help to resuss her and that she'd drowned in the surf." Witness

But as people began arriving on the scene it became clear the men had serious questions to answer. The young woman had died of horrendous internal injuries.

"I remember making it quite clear at the time, words to the effect of, 'something's dodgy'." Witness

Five years on, what happened on that beach haunts everyone involved.

"I just I miss her so much and all I want is justice done." Mother

Despite a thorough police investigation and a scathing Coronial Inquest recommending charges be laid, no one has ever faced court.

"They tried to explain why they weren't going to be charging these fellas." Family Friend

In this searing story, Gold Walkley award-winning reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna follows the trail of evidence:

"This is a horrific case and the details are spelled out very thoroughly in the Coronial report and the Prosecutor's response is incomprehensible in the face of all of this evidence." Academic

And finds a family that won't give up:

"I've got a lot of fight in me... I don't care how, how I do it, but I'm just going to go on and go until there's justice done." Mother

Callous Disregard, reported by Caro Meldrum-Hanna and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 9th May at 8.30pm EDT. It is replayed on Tuesday 10th of May at 10.00am and Wednesday 11th at 11pm. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday at 8.00pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Transcript

The video and the transcript of this story have been temporarily removed due to current criminal proceedings. They will be republished again as soon as possible this year.

Background Information

ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT

Below are some support services for those affected by any of the themes in this report:

1800 Respect | 1800 737 732 - Sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service, available 24/7. https://www.1800respect.org.au/

DV Connect Womensline | 1800 811 811 - Telephone service offering women who are experiencing domestic or family violence 24 hours a day 7 days a week. http://www.dvconnect.org/womensline/

Lifeline | 131 114 - 24 hour crisis line. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

The Men's Referral Service | 1300 766 491 - Anymous and confidential telephone counselling, information and referrals to help men stop using violent and controlling behaviour. http://mrs.org.au/

No To Violence - Male Family Violence Prevention Association. http://ntv.org.au/

Relationships Australia | 1300 364 277 - Relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. http://www.relationships.org.au/

WIRE Women's Support Line VIC) | 1300 134 130 - Support, information and referrals on any issues, such as domestic/family violence. http://www.wire.org.au/

REPORTS AND STATEMENTS

COMMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - The NSW Attorney General Gabrielle Upton told Four Corners she has asked the DPP to review the case of 'Norma' in February of this year. [PDF]

Inquest into the death of 'Norma' | NSW State Coroners Court | 27 Nov 2014 - The inquest found Norma bled to death after a sexual encounter with Adrian Attwater and Paul Maris. [PDF]

REPORT Violence Against Women in Australia | ANROWS | 22 Oct 2015 - This comprehensive study states that 1 in 4 women have experienced at least one incident of violence by an intimate partner.

NEWS COVERAGE

Lynette Daley's death: NSW DPP under scrutiny over unprosecuted killing, by Four Corners | ABC News | 9 May 2016 - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-09/nsw-dpp-under-scrutiny-over-lynette-daley's-unprosecuted-killing/7393368

'Norma's' family won't give up fight for justice | The Daily Telegraph | 15 Apr 2016 - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/normas-family-wont-give-up-fight-for-justice/news-story/d4a555e486e8662fb227638d710bc07b

Death that shocked a town: case reopens on woman who died after sex with two men on remote beach | Guardian | 5 Feb 2016 - http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/06/death-that-shocked-a-town-case-reopens-on-woman-who-died-after-sex-with-two-men-on-remote-beach

Attorney General demands review after no further charges laid over woman's death at Iluka | ABC News | 4 Feb 2016 - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/call-for-review-into-north-coast-womans-death-iluka-beach/7139460

DPP will review evidence against two men who left tragic Norma to die on a beach | The Daily Telegraph | 3 Feb 2016 - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/no-justice-for-tragic-norma-these-vile-men-left-her-to-die-on-a-beach-but-theyll-never-face-court/news-story/c80824ee896723cab71da8788d322e44

Domestic violence cases on the rise in New South Wales, data shows | ABC Newcastle | 21 Apr 2016 - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-21/nsw-domestic-violence-data-shows-rise-in-cases/7344906

FEATURE 'These women are not just statistics': These Australian women all died this year | ABC News | 25 Nov 2015 - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-25/these-women-had-a-right-to-be-safe/6728826

AUDIO Domestic abuse of Indigenous women a 'national crisis' say Marcia Langton | Radio National | 4 May 2015 - https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/crisis-of-domestic-abuse-of-indigenous-women/6442954