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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

17yo killed in alleged DV murder remembered as 'sweet' girl finishing school

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 17-year-old girl was killed in an alleged domestic violence murder in Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory, on July 6.
  • The girl, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, is remembered by her community as a "sweet" and "gentle" person.
  • Local leaders are urging the community to speak out against domestic violence following the tragedy.

The remote Northern Territory community of Galiwin'ku is mourning the loss of a 17-year-old girl who died in an alleged domestic violence murder. Police allege blunt force injuries caused her death on July 6 in a home on Elcho Island, about 500 kilometers east of Darwin. Jordan Garrawurra, 34, has been charged with her murder, with police stating they were in a domestic relationship at the time.

She was more than a statistic, more than a number, she was a family member.

— Ganygulpa DhurrkayA family member of the girl who died, describing the profound loss.

Family members and community leaders described the girl, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, as a "sweet" and "gentle" person who was "more than a statistic." Ganygulpa Dhurrkay, a family member, expressed deep devastation, saying, "She was only a girl and that hurts so much." She recalled the girl's smile and her own inability to hold back tears upon seeing her photo.

I though these were just things that happen in movies but it's not. She was only a girl and that hurts so much.

— Ganygulpa DhurrkayExpressing her grief and disbelief at the tragedy.

In the wake of the tragedy, East Arnhem Regional Council members are urging residents to confront domestic violence. Council President Lapulung Dhamarrandji is calling for awareness to prevent future occurrences, stating, "We need to preserve our young people, our next generation, heart to heart, soul to soul, by taking care and respecting each other." Dhurrkay echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for immediate action: "To say no more, not on my watch. We can rise up to this giant."

When I was shown a photo of her, I remembered her, I know her. She was beautiful, her smile; when I saw the photo that was shown to me, I just couldn't hold back, I screamed 'no, not her'.

— Ganygulpa DhurrkayRecalling her personal connection to the victim.

The school community has been in mourning, with a smoking ceremony held as the girl was in her final year of Year 12. While the family observes silent grieving, their love for the girl is evident. Local authorities are rallying to help stamp out domestic violence, emphasizing that the community can no longer wait for others to solve the problem.

We need to bring that awareness that it will never happen again in the lives of our own people. We need to preserve our young people, our next generation, heart to heart, soul to soul, by taking care and respecting each other.

— Lapulung DhamarrandjiThe Council President urging community action against domestic violence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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