‘Failed my family': Family of woman killed by violent partner drops bombshell on special gender-based violence forum
Lee Little, the father of slain Victorian woman Alicia Little, was one of the headline guests on the special public forum hosted by the Channel 9 program on Wednesday night.
The rare and critical gathering allowed victims of gender-based violence to come face-to-face with key figures in policy, law enforcement and the judiciary on a special hour-long edition of the news program.
Mr Little was joined by Alicia's son Bronson and daughter-in-law Lauren where the family said nothing was being done about violence in the community.
'It just, it breaks my heart to see this happening every day,' Ms Little said to the forum.
Charles McKenzie Ross Evans, Ms Little's former partner, was jailed for four years after violently running her down at a home in Kyneton in December 2017.
Evans was initially charged with murder over Ms Little's death, which occurred after she attempted to leave the violent relationship.
He eventually pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to render assistance after his charges were downgraded.
Evans was jailed for four years for Ms Little's death but was released on parole in 2020, moving to NSW.
Bronson Little voiced his anger at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and how they could not help defend his sister, claiming the family had a shocking encounter with the body.
'They sat my family in a room for 45 minutes and listened to our questions, and at the end of it they said to us, we only brought you here to appease you,' he said.
'To be perfectly honest, the system failed us.
'The system failed my family.'
David Heilpern, a former magistrate who sat on the panel, said he has bailed men who have gone on to kill.
Mr Heilpern said the system 'needs to change'.
'We actually need a holistic change to ensure that victims of violence take pride of place in the criminal justice system, rather than just being a another case.'
At least 36 Australian women have been killed in 2025 so far, according to Australian Femicide Watch.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke, the parents of Hannah Clarke - who was murdered by alongside her three children by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter - said that it continue to get harder grieving their family's loss.
'I think you miss them more for a while.
'You're in shock and you can explain away that you know they're away or something.
'But it gets harder,' Ms Clarke said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
McDonald's rejected from affluent Sydney suburb
One of Sydney's affluent Northern Beaches suburbs has said no to the golden arches, with a contentious proposal to build a McDonald's in Balgowlah shut down amid concerns of anti-social behaviour and congestion on an-already bustling road. The plan to build the restaurant – which would operate from 5am to midnight – at 37 Roseberry Street, was unanimously rejected by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel (NBLPP) on Wednesday. In its decision, the panel highlighted existing congestion in the area – which is home to businesses, dwellings and the Manly Vale B-Line bus stop, stating: 'The application has not demonstrated the proposed development will not have unreasonable impacts on the already congested surrounding road network'. It also pointed out 'incidents of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity recorded by police' – who have raised concerns the restaurant could make matters worse. In its submission to Northern Beaches Council, police said they had 'some reservations' about the restaurant – which was originally proposed to be open 24 hours a day – stating it 'may contribute to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly at night unless adequate security measures are implemented'. 'Given the 24-hour operating model, this development has the potential to attract increased levels of crime, anti-social behaviour, and public safety concerns, particularly during late-night and early-morning trading periods,' police said in the report. Police also noted a comparable existing 24-hour McDonald's located nearby recorded 58 incidents over the last 24 months, including assaults, burglaries and malicious damage. Within the vicinity of the proposed Roseberry Street site, police recorded a total of 112 incidents over the past 24 months. 'The introduction of a 24-hour fast-food venue at this location has the potential to exacerbate these incident categories, particularly in relation to assaults, anti-social behaviour, and property damage at night, if reasonable mitigation strategies are not implemented.' McDonald's had originally proposed redeveloping the site – which is currently occupied by the Seven Miles Coffee Roasters plant, head office and cafe – and opening the restaurant for 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an almost $4 million Development Application lodged to the council in February. However, the hours were later scaled back to 5am to midnight, seven days a week amid community backlash. A community petition calling on officials to 'Say NO' to McDonald's was launched in February. At the time of publication, it had attracted over 3,000 signatures, with supporters raising concerns about traffic congestion and potential crime, as well as noise and rubbish pollution. 'We are calling for a rejection of the application … and to consider the cumulative impact of fast-food outlets on our neighbourhood's environment and character,' Petition creator Sarah Garland said, as per The Courier Mail. Prior to the proposal's rejection, McDonald's told the publication last month, the restaurant would 'create more than 100 new local jobs and represents an investment of more than $3.9m into the community'. contacted McDonald's for comment however a statement was not provided prior to publishing. Plans for Redfern McDonald's scrapped It comes after plans for a 24-hour Macca's in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern were scrapped following uproar from local residents and police earlier this year. The $3 million development plan for a two-storey restaurant on the area's main dining and shopping strip, Redfern Street, was blocked in a unanimous vote by the local planning panel at a City of Sydney council meeting in May. Police and local residents fought to stop the proposal, warning it would lead to a spike in theft and violent crime at night, and be a step backwards for the suburb. A request by a McDonald's representative for a six-week extension to try and resolve locals' concerns was also denied during the meeting, with one panel member suggesting those attempts would be like putting 'lipstick on what the community submissions largely believe to be a pig'. The local planning panel conceded that the development proposal 'has not adequately addressed crime prevention'.
The Australian
4 hours ago
- The Australian
Arncliffe, Sydney: Boy, 14, dies after falling from e-bike
A boy has died after he fell from an e-bike, NSW Police have confirmed. Emergency services were called to Broe Ave in Arncliffe, near Sydney Airport, about 2.45pm on Thursday following reports a rider had fallen from an e-bike. When police arrived they found a 14-year old boy with serious injuries. Paramedics treated him at the scene and rushed him to Sydney Children's Hospital in a critical condition, but NSW Police confirmed he in the evening he had died in hospital. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. More to come. Read related topics: Sydney Airport
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Tracing the trajectory of the Christchurch terrorist
In 2019 an Australian white supremacist lifestreamed his shooting rampage through Christchurch mosques. He killed 51 people and injured more than 80 during Friday prayers. He's been treated as a lone actor. His manifesto shared online minutes before the massacre disguised his connections to far right/white extremists. And at the New Zealand Royal Commission he convinced investigators that he had minimal online presence. But other investigators, academics and anti-fascist researchers here and in New Zealand have questioned this. Journalist Joey Watson argues that by unpicking the disguised interactions the terrorist had online leading up to the mosque attacks, and following his movements in Europe, that we should not be seeing this Australian terrorist as a lone actor.
