This post deals with violence against women and might be triggering for some readers.
Vanessa Godfrey - a 46-year-old mother and grandmother from Queensland - was killed on Valentine's Day, allegedly by her husband.
On February 14 at 3.35pm, police carried out a welfare check at a resort in Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast. They found Vanessa on the bed "covered in blood" with wounds on her arms. A man - believed to be her husband - was found unconscious nearby.
Women and violence: The hidden numbers. Post continues below.
Sunshine Coast detectives allege the killing took place on Monday.
"It would be very traumatic for anyone attending. This is a tragedy that has occurred here on the Sunshine Coast," Detective Inspector Dave Drinnen said today.
"We have a woman who has lost her life, we have a male person who has now been charged in relation to murder, so there's going to be a lot of mourning."
The man, Jeffrey James Godfrey, was conscious by the time paramedics arrived, and police arrested him at the scene. Godfrey has been charged with murder and refused bail. He was due to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Neighbours said they heard people arguing and partying for two days in the room and at one stage they were singing love songs loudly to each other.
That same day, a 45-year-old woman died from a stab wound. A 26-year-old known to the woman was arrested and was charged with murder. The pair were known to each other.
Rockhampton police in Central Queensland charged a 22-year-old with murder following the death of a toddler on January 19. The child was known to the accused murderer. Detectives from the Rockhampton Child Protection and Investigation Unit have launched an investigation into the child's death.
Days later, emergency services were called to a house fire in Collingwood Park, Queensland. They found the bodies of Christine Stephan and her husband. Initially, the victims were thought to have died in the fire, but further investigation showed they had died from what police described as "significant injuries caused during an act of violence".
19-year-old Arnima Hayat was found dead in her North Parramatta apartment in Sydney, after reports of a domestic violence incident. Her husband handed himself into police and was charged with murder.
Emergency services were called to a property in Springvale, Victoria on February 10, where they found the body of a 41-year-old woman. A 20-year-old Springvale man was arrested on February 14 and charged with murder. He was known to the victim and police are not searching for any other person of interest.
The killings of children and women this year have one major thing in common: they were all allegedly murdered by someone they knew. As reiterated by Mission Australia, women are more likely to experience abuse at the hands of a partner than a stranger.
Listen to The Quicky: The law that allows men to explain away murder. Post continues after audio.
Vanessa is the sixth woman to have died by violence in Australia this year.
In 2021, 43 women were killed as a result of violence against women, as tallied by Destroy The Joint.
How many women have to be murdered in 2022, for things to change?
What will it take for more resources, funding and education to be implemented?
If not now: when?
A GoFundMe has been created to support Vanessa's family. You can donate to it here.
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.
Feature Image: Facebook.