Abused

Abuse survivor tells news.com.au that her mental health suffered after being contacted by journalist Richard GuilliattWarning: This article contains graphic contentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA woman who suffered sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her parents for 14 years has broken her silence to say how devastated she was when The Australian interviewed the jailed couple for a podcast called Shadow of Doubt and described her evidence in an editorial as “manifestly implausible”.Her parents were jailed in 2016 but it was not until this week she chose to speak publicly after suppression orders were lifted in a separate, historical case against her father, William “Rob” Gilfillan. Continue reading...

In letter to justice secretary, groups say judge-led decisions more likely to be influenced by bias than those made by 12 random people Thirty organisations representing victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG) have written to the justice secretary, David Lammy, urging him to drop plans to significantly reduce the number of jury trials.The groups said that the proposals, which will affect court cases in England and Wales, will deepen mistrust in the justice system among victims and distract from measures designed to reduce offending. Continue reading...

Woman known only as Beth says abuser claimed status made him untouchable, which terrorised her into silenceMI5 has apologised and paid compensation to a woman who alleged the Security Service was to blame for her being attacked with a machete and abused by one of its agents.The woman, known only as Beth, was in a relationship with a man she says used his status as an MI5 agent to perpetrate abuse and terrorise her into silence. Continue reading...