DV ALERT FAILURE

Fury as woman discovers ex-partner’s release via Facebook

A WOMAN has been forced into hiding after learning her abusive ex-partner had been released early from prison via his Facebook posts.

Family members are furious that the woman was not warned of his release by Corrective Services – as should have happened under legal reforms introduced in March.

A GOLD Coast woman is in hiding after learning through Facebook that her abusive expartner had been released early from jail.

The man – convicted of numerous criminal charges and who had physically attacked his ex-partner, smashed her belongings and made death threats from jail – was not expected to be given parole until May next year.

But just seven weeks after being sentenced in March, he was released.

Despite a three-year permanent domestic violence order against the man and legal reforms introduced in March which included a new DV alert to victims, Corrective Services failed to warn the woman. Her family only found out after friends checked his status on Facebook.

“It’s bullshit,” a sister of the woman told the Bulletin. “They (Corrective Services) didn’t contact us to let us know. We rang them and tried to confirm it but they wouldn’t give out any information.

“A friend looked up his Facebook page. They looked up his name just to see what was going on. He was out a week before we found out about it.”

Parents of the frightened woman have installed security cameras at home and ensure their daughter does not leave the house “without someone looking over her shoulder”.

The Bulletin had campaigned for the DV reforms after the shocking murder of Teresa Bradford by her exhusband after his release from custody and slaying of Shelsea Schilling by the Man Bronson Ellery.

In the latest case, a warrant was out for the man regarding drug offences, evading police, driving without a licence and Lizard multiple DV complaints.

He was arrested in November last year and sent to a jail north of the Coast where he attempted to phone his exgirlfriend but she refused to answer.

“He made contact in prison while the DV (order) was in place,” the family member said. “He (then) made a life-threatening phone call (about her) to his family. Police had to come to the house here because my sister’s life was red flagged.

“She has been offered to go into protection. She is never alone. We got her trauma counselling. We have put security cameras up around the house. She’s very depressed. She has so much potential. Mentally and physically, she’s a long way getting back to herself.”

Opposition Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence spokesperson Ros Bates said she was deeply concerned this was not an isolated case: “We know that Labor voted against the parole alerts for domestic violence victims and it seems they are continuing to let victims down”.

“Victims and their families need to know when an offender is being released so they can take the necessary safe precautions.”

The LNP said the law required authorities to warn victims about a prisoner’s release. But a Queensland Corrective Services spokesperson said DV victims could now apply to the Eligible Persons Register where they would be updated about jail sentences for perpetrators.

“QCS is working with agencies such as police and victim support groups to inform victims of the changes to eligibility,” the spokesperson said.

A Bulletin report in February revealed victims were not being warned about the release from jail of DV perpetrators due to a technology failure in the prison system.

The lack of data sharing between government departments was revealed in the final parole system review report by former solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff, QC,

A FRIEND LOOKED UP HIS FACEBOOK PAGE. HE WAS OUT A WEEK BEFORE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT