Over 2 years ago an incident so disturbing permeated my consciousness on a level I could not contain. It made me angry, furious, confused and physically ill even thinking about it. Sometimes it still does. - I remember hearing the news as it evolved. The disbelief. The sheer evil. the outpuring of emotion from the entitre country !
Allow me to tell you about the story of Darcey Freeman.
In the early morning on January 29th 2009, young Darcey rose with the morning sun, and her two brothers, anticipating her first day of school. - Sadly, she would never see the playground. Never get to play. Never get to meet her classmates.
At approximately 9.10am, Arthur Freeman, father of three, pulled his 4WD over to the side of the road while traveling over the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne. For reasons only known to him, he emerged from his vehicle, with his 4yo old daughter in his arms. He then walked to the side of the bridge, where witnesses reported he dropped her to the bottom 58 metres below (190 feet OR 17 stories). - His remaining two sons were witnesses to the event. The eldest just 6yo.
He returned to his car, and simply drove off.
Horrified witnesses feverishly phoned "000", and rescue teams were swiftly dispatched. Darcey was located and pulled to shore by the dedicated paramedics, who worked on her for 50 minutes. She was stabilised and transported by helicopter to the Children's Hospital. At 1.35pm, her little body succumbed to the horrific internal injuries sustained in the fall.
These unthinkable actions united the Nation in grief, and sent shudders through the greater Melbourne Community. Not long after we learned it was just days before her 5th Birthday !
Galvanised by empathy for the families involved, I helped create a Facebook page with a few others as an outlet for those affected by this tragedy, and serve as a meeting point for those wishing to share their condolences. - We got 100,000 members within the weeks end.
It still astounds me ... and tears me up equal measure.
I have a daughter about the same age.
I just can't fathom it.
After hearing some of the excerpts from "000" calls, and the small snippets that have emerged from the 6yo brother who witness it - I have more concerns for him, than anyone, long-term. As a relative outsider to the tragedy, it still haunts me on a powerful level.
In the minutes after the event, Arthur Freeman, drove to a Court in Melbourne, and handed his remaining sons to authorities in a blubbering regretful mess - A stark fucking cry from the Arthur we see today. Cold. Compassion-less. Un-responsive.
At the centre of this saga is a tale of family breakdown, custody issues and the emergence of mental illness.
None of this is relevant to my post today.
I come here to inform you all that Arthur Freeman has been convicted by a jury of his peers.
He was found GUILTY of MURDER !!!
Sentencing occurs later on. Sadly, it wont be by throwing him off a 17-storey bridge !
Spare a thought for Darcey's mum and her brothers.
Spare some for the grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbours and friends.
Spare some more for Arthur's family (there's no way they can be held accountable for his cruelty).
Spare a thought for the horrified and permanently scarred witnesses.
While the justice system has many, many flaws ... Good GOD it got this one right today !
It may have taken 5 days of deliberations, but ultimately JUSTICE has prevailed.