In a candid interview with 60 Minutes, Jessica Silva discusses the day she had to kill her violent partner to protect her family.
Trigger warning: This post contains details of domestic violence that could be distressing for some readers.
On Mother’s Day 2012, Jessica Silva stabbed James Polkinghorne – her partner, and father of her young son – to death.
She was charged with murder, and spent eight months in a maximum security prison awaiting trial.
And last month, she walked free from court.
On tonight’s 60 Minutes, Jessica told the story of how her relationship with Polkinghorne began – and then how it descended into a nightmare of mental and physical abuse.
Speaking candidly to host Michael Usher, Jessica revealed the warning signs of violence to come.
“He always had to be right. Everything had to be done his way and in his time.”
She recounts the first time she was physically assaulted, describing how Polkinghorne grabbed her by the neck, pushed her against the wall, and choked her.
“And then he let me go, and then he just ran down the side of the road and just started head-butting the cars down the side of the road.”
Neighbours called the police following the incident, who arrived and questioned Jessica.
“The police came and the police, um, asked me why I had red marks around my neck. And I just said that it was an allergic reaction, because he had told me that if I had said anything to the police, that here’d be a lot of drama.”
She describe a relationship characterised by hideous abuse, both mental and physical: her partner belittling her, calling her fat, ugly and worthless, throwing her across the room and holding her over the balcony. He pinned her down, and punched and kicked her.
Top Comments
Such a brave inspirational girl. Best wishes for the future and thank you for being so brave going on national TV to tell your story and help other victims in your situation. Take care and best wishes for the future. I wish I was as brave as you xx
This abuser should have been held accountable years earlier, and it may not have come to this traumatic event. Hope this very brave woman has a lot of healthy support around her. Some people seem to behave as if they have a right to threaten others and use violence. Where do they learn this rage and what causes it? Where they learn this is where we need funding and resources, not a prime minister who hands out religious counselling vouchers to stay in a relationship. sorry to add the politics to such an awful time for this woman, but it's true. The government could seriously help, but they won't. Glad this news page keeps talking about it.