IT’S the chilling moment that plays on loop in her mind, haunting her waking hours and gnawing away at her sleep.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Tianjarrah Denniss burst into Gunney’s General Store last December, he was fuelled by a desperate need for money and little else.
He terrorised the woman behind the counter, holding a screwdriver to her neck and shouting demands while her 14-year-old granddaughter watched on in horror.
Within a minute, he was gone.
Less than a year on from the attack, and the mental scars still run deep for the victim.
Flashbacks and pangs of anxiety from the day are her constant companion in life.
Compounding the trauma, the man responsible will be eligible for release next month after receiving a non-parole period of just 10 months from the court.
The victim, and other staff members, remain fearful the offender could return and confront them.
Shop owner Brad Gunn is furious at the sentence, claiming it is manifestly unjust and sends an “inappropriate” message to would-be offenders and the community.
The media is awash with graphic descriptions of crime, all breathlessly reported to make them sound as dramatic as possible.
But so ubiquitous is such reporting, we risk becoming desensitised and trivialised to the very real trauma of victims.
That’s why their voices need to be heard.
Only through focusing on the impact on victims, rather than the actions of criminals, can we have a mature debate about crime and punishment.
That debate is multi-faceted and complex.
It is very easy to blindly call for tougher sentences – some conservative politicians and radio talkback hosts have made a living out of it.
The notion all crooks should be locked up for longer ignores the important role rehabilitation plays in the sentencing matrix.
But while we should always demand consistency and context from sentencing magistrates, there is something deeply flawed with our court system when victims end up with a tougher penalty than their attackers.
Until that imbalance is addressed, the concept of justice will continue to be compromised.