Stella Magnisalis speaks out after years of abuse by former SA police officer husband

·

Stella Magnisalis has delivered a powerful victim impact statement detailing years of violent abuse by her former husband, ex-police detective Matthew Alan Thomson, who pleaded guilty to six assault charges in the South Australian District Court.

Magnisalis told the court on Tuesday, April 15, that Thomson’s abuse spanned four years and continued even while she was pregnant.

“My silence was not consent. I was trained to be obedient, to hide my pain,” she said.

“You broke things to scare me, and eventually I was one of them. My home became a prison and I lived in constant fear. To this day, I still believe that you’re going to kill me.”

Matthew Thomson in police uniform. Photo: Youtube.

She described how Thomson, while working in the family violence sector, inflicted physical and psychological torment, including kicking her in the head and covering her body in bruises.

“Even while I was pregnant, the assaults never stopped. I thought carrying a child might spare me,” she said.

“Every year on my birthday, I cannot erase the smell, the texture, feeling utterly degraded after you wiped faeces on my face.”

According to The Advertiser, supporters applauded as she concluded her statement.

Their eight-year-old daughter Frances also addressed the court, recalling how Thomson once gave her a blood nose and calling his actions “disgusting, gross and unacceptable.”

Thomson, now 42, lives in Queensland with a new wife and newborn son. His lawyer cited a violent upbringing, but Judge Anthony Allen said his role as a serving police officer at the time of the abuse aggravated the offences.

“There needs to be an element of sentence that denounces the fact that someone who’s responsible for enforcing the law has broken it,” Judge Allen said.

Sentencing is set for June.

Source: The Advertiser.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Meet the Greek Australian doctor fighting to save Indigenous children’s lives

Professor John Carapetis, renowned paediatrician and infectious disease expert, hopes to close the health gap for Indigenous children.

44th National Cretan Federation Convention to be held in Sydney

The 44th National Cretan Federation Convention will be hosted by the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW from in 2026.

Day three of the Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers inspires deep reflection

The third day of the 1st Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers unfolded at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall on Wednesday, July 9.

FECCA’s Peter Doukas OAM condemns violence against Jewish community in Australia

Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) condemns in unequivocal terms violence against the Jewish community.

Cyprus’ Andreas Grigoriou to visit Australia to mark 51st anniversary of Turkish invasion

Andreas Grigoriou will visit Australia this July to participate in events marking the 51st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

You May Also Like

Greece extends pandemic support as economy seen rebounding this year

Greece said on Monday it will pump more money into its economy to prop up businesses and households battered by the pandemic.

EU recovery fund deal hailed a ‘national success’ as Greece to receive €72 billion

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has hailed the new European Union deal on a post-pandemic recovery fund as a “national success”.

Divers spot endangered seahorses in polluted Greek lagoon

Divers have reported a rare sighting of hundreds of endangered seahorses in a polluted lagoon in western Greece.