Content warning: This post contains graphic content that may be distressing for some readers.
By David Spicer
Two sisters have told a Sydney court their lives have been ruined by their parents’ “putrid acts of torture” and sexual abuse over a 15-year period.
The northern New South Wales women, who can not be named for legal reasons, gave victim impact statements at a sentencing submissions hearing at the Downing Centre District Court today.
Their father was convicted of 86 child sex offences and their mother of 13 offences at an earlier hearing.
The incest and sexual abuse began when one of the girls was five years old, the court heard.
On a number of occasions, the girls were restrained, raped and tortured.
The first daughter to give evidence focused her statement on the conduct of her mother.
The court heard that after her fourth birthday, her life grew worse year by year.
“You chose not to protect your daughters,” she said.
“You have destroyed my life. It is impossible for me to explain the pain I live in every day.
“A mother is supposed to look after and protect us.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
During the trial the jury was told the girl’s mother participated in some of the abuse.
‘Confidence, self-esteem robbed from me’
Their father took them to sporting events and would sometimes abuse them in cars, and in their bedrooms on “special occasions”.
Another daughter told the court that Father’s Day “always reminds me of the sexual acts I was forced to perform”.
She said that flashbacks of her father’s “putrid acts of torture” and “unspeakable acts” are brought back to her on a daily basis.
“My childhood was a living hell. My confidence and self esteem was robbed from me. I am consumed by suicidal thoughts and hate.”
During today’s hearing, the father also gave evidence, maintaining that he was not guilty of the offences.
He did, however, take responsibility for emotional abuse of his family and wept whilst urging the judge to be lenient on his wife.
The father has been in jail for three years awaiting the outcome of the trial.
Judge Felicia Huggett told the court today that the abuse was “systemic and prolonged” over many years.
She noted that the most serious of the offences — sexual intercourse with a child under six — carried a maximum of 20 years in jail.
The judge will announce the sentence on October 27.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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Top Comments
How can we allow these animals to have the possibility of seeing the outside world again - they should serve 2x life sentences as they have destroyed two lives.
Blessings to the sisters who survived and are obviously warriors for taking on such evil.
I 100% agree. In my opinion there is no worse a crime than when parents/guardians damage innocent children around them who deserve love and protection. How does someone heal from a crime like this? They both deserve to rot in jail.
It takes a lot of time, a lot of therapy and a lot of money. My intensive therapy started as a 12 week course. I've now finished 4 years later. It's still hard sometimes. There are still fears, nightmares, anxiety and some depression. They are all at manageable levels and I gave the skills to cope with them now. It will always be there "on the bookshelf" as one of my psychologists says, but the book isn't on the table laying open any more.
I'm not either of the girls in the article. My father committed suicide and robbed me of any form of acknowledgement or justice as soon as I built up the courage to say I would tell. It took me 13 years but I got there. I really wish I hadn't waited another 18 years before I got help though. To anyone out there, get help as soon as you can so you can live a full life. It is really hard starting a life in your 40's