"A man who hits a woman is not a man," she wrote on Facebook. Days later, she was dead.

Trigger warning: This post deals with violence against women and may be distressing for some readers.

By GRACE JENNINGS-EDQUIST

In March 2010, mother of four Anthea Mari posted to Facebook: “Yaaay, got a job got life and got my beautiful girls, life doesn’t get much better than this!”

After 15 years of couch surfing and living in and out of domestic violence refuges, it seems life had started to improve for the 34-year-old Brisbane woman.

Ms Mari had even shared her advice for other women escaping violence, saying in newsletter published by not-for-profit Micah Projects: “Ask for help.”

“Don’t think you’re the only one,” she said. “There are plenty of other women going through it too.”

But this week, as two of her children slept in a neighbouring room, Ms Mari’s life was cut short.

Her lifeless body was found in the lounge of her Brisbane home in the early hours of Tuesday– and on Wednesday morning, police arrested an ex-convict in relation to the ‘suspicious’ death. 

Jacob Michael Smith, 38, was picked up in the Brisbane suburb of Gaven at 10.30am, police said. 

Detective Inspector Rod Kemp told reporters Mr Smith had been at Ms Mari’s Norman Park home at “about 2am” — 90 minutes before police were called. 

“All I can say is he’s known to the person. He’s been there before.” Det Insp Kemp said. “We believe he is just a friend, we don’t believe there was any relationship.”

According to News Corp, Mr Smith has served time for armed robberies — including the holdup of a Gold Coast TAB –and was once charged in relation to the 1997 strangulation death of a prison inmate.

Police said yesterday they did not believe a weapon had been used to kill Ms Mari, and The Courier-Mail reports police are investigating whether she was strangled.

“There was no noise as such or no extreme violence evident,” Det Insp Kemp said yesterday.

“Our forensic police are still examining the scene.”

He added that two of Ms Mari’s daughters, aged 11 and 12, were assisting with the investigation.

“(The girls) have been counselled for “the horrendous thing that’s happened in their life,” Det Insp Rob Kemp said.

It is understood Ms Mari lived in the house with those two daughters, as well as two male housemates.

Her eldest daughter, 15, lived with her grandmother, while the location of Ms Mari’s youngest child, a three-year-old son, remains unclear.

Ms Mari’s body was removed from the home yesterday afternoon, and the property was cordoned off with police tape as officers interviewed neighbours.

An autopsy will be conducted today to determine the cause of death.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 If you believe you may be an abusive partner, you can receive help via Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277. If you have experienced, or are at risk of domestic violence or sexual assault, you can receive help by calling 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732. If you are in immediate danger, please call the police on 000.

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