When it comes to fighting for justice, victim of crime Debbie Tippett only wants one thing; to be afforded the same courtesies as those extended to her attacker.
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Disgusted by the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Grant Collard’s murder conviction, Ms Tippett has once again spoken out on inequities in the justice system and her personal fight for closure.
The Mandurah woman was with colleague, Chenoa Eudey, in April 2013, when Collard burst through the doors of their workplace and threatened to kill the pair.
Collard, who was armed with a knife and who had just left Mandurah taxi driver Lindsay Ferguson for dead, held the women captive for 15 minutes.
It was largely thanks to Ms Tippett’s actions that Collard was held at bay until police arrived to arrest him.
Without her quick thinking, Collard’s drug-fuelled reign of terror could have claimed more lives.
Lindsay’s not here anymore. But I am. And I want answers.
- Debbie Tippett
Following Collard’s guilty plea – after appeal – to the lesser charge of manslaughter, Ms Tippett said she felt forgotten by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and planned to agitate for the original charge of kidnapping to be upgraded to attempted murder.
“If it can go one way for him, why can’t it go that way for me?” she said.
“He tried to kill me. If he can appeal, I should be able to, too.
“This is just a kick in the guts.”
Ms Tippett, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following her ordeal at the hands of Collard, said she still struggled to sleep since the day he threatened to kill her.
She has never received criminal compensation, and claims she has been offered no help in dealing with the mountain of paperwork stemming from the court case.
“Why isn’t this over?” she said. “Why aren’t I able now to just get on with my life?
“More effort goes into protecting the criminal. When I ask for help I can’t get it.”
Ms Tippett said she had requested a meeting with the Attorney General to discuss her concerns.
“I am just hoping for victims to be treated with far more respect than criminals,” she said.
“I don’t know why that’s not happening now. I feel like screaming.
“I want answers.”
- This article first appeared on Mandurah Mail