Victim of Tom Silvagni Breaks Silence, Advocates for Sentencing Overhaul
The young woman who was raped by Tom Silvagni has courageously spoken out, detailing the profound pain and distress she endured during the high-profile legal case. In a powerful move, she is now throwing her support behind a major sentencing reform proposed by the Victorian government.
Silvagni's Conviction and Appeal
Tom Silvagni, the youngest son of former AFL player Stephen Silvagni and his celebrity wife Jo, was convicted on December 5 of two counts of rape. He received a sentence of six years and two months in jail, with a non-parole period of three years and three months. However, Silvagni has since launched an appeal, arguing that his convictions should be quashed due to alleged errors made by the trial judge.
Victim's Emotional Account
Months after the trial, Silvagni's victim has opened up about the court process, describing it as baffling and disgusting. She expressed frustration over the use of good character references in his defense, stating, "He was able to get multiple people that knew him to write about how good of a person he still was." She added, "What wound me up the most was knowing that if you asked me how good of a person I thought the perpetrator was, even a day before he committed the crime, I 100 per cent would have said the exact same thing." The victim described the entire experience as surreal, noting that "everything feels so surreal still. And I think it’s going to be like this for a while. There’s a lot to take in."
Victorian Government's Proposed Reforms
In response to such cases, the Victorian government is moving to axe good character references in court, a tool often used by criminals to mitigate their sentences. Premier Jacinta Allan emphasized, "This is another way of putting safety first, particularly when it comes to the safety of women." Currently, character references are restricted only in cases related to child sexual abuse, but the proposed new laws would implement a blanket ban across all relevant offenses.
Support from Advocates and Families
The reform has garnered strong support from advocates and families affected by sexual abuse. Harrison James, a sexual abuse survivor, welcomed the change, stating, "It’s completely dehumanising to have to hear the person who ruined your life, essentially, lauded as a great bloke or a pillar of the community." He noted the growing momentum across Australia, with New South Wales and the ACT already adopting similar measures. Natalie Gordon, sister of sexual abuse victim Ash Gordon, echoed this sentiment, saying, "If you’re committing crimes of that magnitude, you should not get the opportunity to defend your character."
Opposition from Legal Professionals
Not everyone supports the proposed laws. Lawyers argue that the move is more about politics than justice. Greg Barns SC from the Australian Lawyers Alliance criticized the reform, stating, "There’s no rhyme or reason to it. It’s simply populism. But people have a right to be sentenced fairly." Despite this opposition, the Victorian government plans to introduce the new laws to parliament by the middle of the year.
Resources for Support
For those impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, support is available. Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In emergencies, dial 000. Men concerned about their use of family violence can contact the Men’s Referral Service at 1300 766 491 for advice and counselling.
