Domestic Violence..how do you help/support someone?

[Robeena]

Okay this is doing my head in and I can hardly sleep. It doesn?t even concern me just my good friend.

Her ex is currently on remand for assaulting her. He is due in court next week and will probably get off with a warning and 4 months jail time. He has in the past knocked her front teeth out, broken/cracked/fractured her ribs. Held a knife to her mother?s throat and was supposed to serve 5 years for putting his first girlfriend?s new boyfriend in hospital and a coma for 3 months. But as he is a police informant he only served 18 months. He has threatened to kill her and her family to name but a few things.

She ran away once and he tracked down her 8mth pregnant sister and got her to tell him where my girlfriend and kids were hiding out.
When he was serving jail time he managed to get two ?mates? to attack his ex-girlfriend as well.

Basically she doesn?t want him to know she is scared but she is afraid that he will kill her. She has a panic button that the police gave her but last time he assaulted her the police reponse time was slow and it was too late he was gone.

I am scared for her that she will be one of those statistics you read in the newspapers who have warned the police that he will kill her but when they finally do something it?s too late. The last time he assaulted her it was in a garage forecourt and they have the CCTV footage and it took 10 People to get him of her ? but she cannot believe that because he pleaded guilty he will get off after 4 months.

What can I do to help her?

[Alambil]

Ring Womens Aid 0808 2000 247 (freephone 24/7) - they will help put her in a safe-house, address unknown to ANYone other than who lives there.

She can get a police escort to move aswell

[Katisha]

Def ring women's aid. They will be able to advise about the family as well, if they are also being threatened .