WARNING: Readers please be advised this article mentions acts of intimate partner violence against First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The family of a 24-year old Jigalong woman from Western Australia who was violently attacked by her male partner hours before she died has voiced their outrage at the justice system after police cleared him of any involvement in her death.
The woman, referred to as Nyaparu for traditional cultural reasons, was captured on CCTV in December 2022 sustaining repeated beatings from her boyfriend, Aaron Wumi, 28. Wumi was seen punching his girlfriend 40 times, stomping on her head five times and choking her.
Hours later, Nyaparu was found unresponsive, lying on a footpath in Perth’s CBD. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at 3.12am. Her death however, was caused by a heart attack, pathologists concluded.
Wumi was not charged with her murder, only with causing bodily harm. He told police he “didn’t mean to kill her.”
Last week, he was sentenced to four years’ jail, though he is eligible for parole in two years. In court, Wumi pleaded guilty to his charge. His lawyer read out a statement from her client, which revealed that Wumi was extremely remorseful for what he did and that he was “sad.”
“I’m love sick for her, I would like to tell her mum I’m sorry for what I had done,” the statement read. “I didn’t mean it to happen that way. I think the alcohol just got the best of me.”
Perth District Court Judge Wendy Hughes said she accepted Wumi’s remorse, but that his actions constituted serious domestic violence.
“At your hands, she was being assaulted and humiliated, by a person that is supposed to care and love her,” Judge Hughes said, addressing Wumi.
“She was hurt away from her family and away from Country, where her family could not keep her safe. Mr Wumi this has got to stop. Stop the drink, do the time, get back on country, listen to your elders.”
“The women in your community must be respected. They are not a punching bag for your anger.”
During her sentencing, Judge Hughes said her decision was made on the basis Wumi did not directly or indirectly cause the death of his girlfriend.
“The cause of death was determined to be coronary artery atherosclerosis with alcohol effect,” she said.
“Essentially, that indicates that the victim died of a heart attack as someone who suffered from heart disease where high levels of alcohol increased the risk of a heart attack.”
Judge Hughes also advised Wumi to stop drinking. “Mr Wumi, you must never ever hurt your partner again,” she said. “You must respect the women in your community, they are not a punching bag for your anger.”
Nyaparu’s brother-in-law Michael Rickards told reporters his family are stunned by the court’s findings.
“My sister died two years ago and nobody’s spoken about it; there were no questions raised,” he said. “If [Nyaparu] wasn’t beaten that night, would she have had a heart attack later that night?”
“She’s been hit 40 times, had her head stomped on five times, been choked, stripped, she’s in distress.”
Rickards wants the government to do more to end domestic violence and is calling for repeat offenders to be put on a national banned drinkers’ register.
West Australian Greens Senator Dorinda Cox said her heart goes out to Nyaparu’s family — “particularly another child who has lost their mother,” she said.
“We know that First Nations women and children are impacted by violence at higher rates – and their voices need to be heard.”
In Australia, Indigenous women are 33 times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be hospitalised from family and domestic violence.
Last week, the WA government announced a further $96.4 million investment in support services across the state, however, failed to mention any money specifically for Indigenous supports or services.
Meanwhile, Senator Dorinda Cox said Labor needs to get serious about preventing men’s violence against women and children. “They need to listen to First Nations women with lived experience,” she said.
“More funding is needed for victim-survivors, healing and preventative supports, including behaviour-change programs for men. WA needs urgent law reform including addressing the inadequate bail laws.”
WA Premier Roger Cook condemned Wumi’s criminal actions, but failed to announce any law reform around the issue of gender violence.
“Whether the heart attack was caused by that attack,” he said. “I’m not qualified to be able to make that call, but I understand that this case is very distressing and it’s heartbreaking.”
In West Australia, rouhly $400,000 was allocated in this year’s budget for the Department of Justice to begin work on the inaugural family and domestic violence disclosure scheme.
Last year, a study revealed concerning levels of policing failures in the deaths of Indigenous women by domestic violence.
“In almost all of these instances [of domestic violence], Indigenous women experiencing intimate partner violence had engaged with police to help them in their situations, however, a lot of women did not receive the support that potentially could have saved their lives,” researcher Kyllie Cripps, from Monash University, wrote.
In January, a First Nations steering committee was created to advise the government on how it can best work to reduce rates of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
The steering committee will provide advice relating to the development of the standalone First Nations National Plan to end violence against women and children.
The plan addresses Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020-2030, which states the government’s goal to halve the rate of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by 2031.
“The First Nations National Plan will guide a whole of society approach to addressing the unacceptable rates of family violence and abuse against First Nations women and children,” Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said in January.
“The Steering Committee will work in genuine partnership with all levels of government to embed the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the First Nations National Plan.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.
To speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.