Nicolette Ghirxi Inquiry Urges Immediate Action To Hear Pending Domestic Violence Cases
The inquiry into the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi has called on court authorities to take action to address the backlog of domestic violence cases, noting that such cases could not wait.
The inquiry was set up in order to determine how the state’s social services handled Ghirxi’s case after she reached out for assistance. In his recommendations, retired judge Lawrence Quintano said that it was imperative that protection orders are issued without delay by duty magistrates. If necessary pending cases could be distributed to other magistrates until more are recruited, the report states.
Furthermore, the inquiry has recommended making risk assessments for those reporting domestic violence the default, states that going forward, a risk assessment should be the default, with victims being given the option to opt-out, rather than opt in as is presently the case. Ghirxi filed a police report about her former partner Edward Johnston in the months leading up to her death but is understood to have refused a risk assessment because she did not feel like she was at risk. The aim is to identify high-risk cases early and implement measures to protect victims before violence escalates.
Other recommendations include public awareness campaigns, an easy-to-remember helpline for victims, and lessons in equality for primary school students and seminars for members of the judiciary to understand the subject better.
The inquiry was launched in response to the outrage that followed the murder – the latest in a series of murders involving women and their partners. Earlier this year, a complaints board reviewing the case found no evidence that the police had failed in their duty to protect her.
What are your thoughts on these recommendations?
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