The family of Jacqui Purton, a mother of four tragically killed by her partner in an incident of domestic violence, is advocating for stricter laws to combat such violence. At the age of 37, Purton was attempting to leave a property in rural Tasmania in March 2023 when she was struck by a car, a white Holden Commodore, driven by James Kenneth Austin, 40. Initially charged with murder, Austin later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 13-year prison sentence, eligible for parole after eight years.
On the night of the incident, Purton encountered Austin after an argument and was walking down a gravel driveway when he drove after her. The vehicle, travelling at a speed of 20-30 km/h, hit her, resulting in severe injuries including a broken pelvis, ultimately leading to her death. Justice Michael Brett of the Supreme Court of Tasmania described Austin’s actions as “cold-blooded” and noted that he had left Purton to die after the collision. He later returned to place her in the back seat of the car and had his father drive to meet an ambulance, attempting to mislead the authorities by indicating that Purton had left the property.
Throughout their tumultuous four-year relationship, Austin had exhibited abusive behaviour, with a history of threatening and controlling actions towards Purton. An existing family violence order was in place to protect her from these abuses. Justice Brett remarked that on the night of the incident, while Austin did not intend to strike Purton, his actions were reckless as he drove towards her instead of stopping.
Remembered as lively and devoted to her children, Purton’s family, including her mother Leanne Walford and daughter Shakira Robertson, is committed to pressing for reform in domestic violence laws. They argue for harsher penalties for violence involving vehicles, highlighting that the full extent of the abuse Purton experienced was not fully revealed in court. Leanne emphasised the urgent need for stronger laws to prevent future tragedies, stating that the statistics on domestic violence are grim and continue to rise.
Justice Brett acknowledged that Purton’s death exemplified a severe case of manslaughter intertwined with family violence and breach of a protection order. This unfortunate case underscores the pressing need for comprehensive reform in the legal system to safeguard victims of domestic violence.