Police told 31-year old Dani* (not her real name) that there was
a prima facie case against her former partner for
threatening violence, which means there was enough evidence for
a magistrate to convict him,
but decided not to prosecute the man because there was a "a
low level of public interest" to do so.
In Dani's case, police conducted a factual review of the
alleged offence, but recommended that no charges be laid against
the alleged perpetrator.
Instead, they turned the tables on Dani, warning that she could
be
charged with assault for hitting the man, which she had done
before running to safety.
Private criminal prosecution
Determined to bring her partner to account, Dani* instructed her
lawyers to commence a
private criminal prosecution against her former partner and,
earlier this year, the man pleaded guilty to threatening violence.
He was sentenced to 130 hours of community service.
