Why is it, despite the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the dedicated efforts of campaigners such as Rosie Batty and rising outrage over a never ending succession of hateful violent crimes, society is not winning the battle against domestic violence?
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Convicted murderer Marcus Rappel's distasteful performance during his sentencing hearing on Friday, which resulted in him being removed from the court, demonstrated that even after two years in custody as a result of killing his former partner, he is reluctant to accept responsibility for his actions.
Rappel, who murdered Tara Costigan with an axe while she was holding their week-old baby in her arms in February 2015, accused the judge of speaking "rubbish", said he had called him a liar and called for "rights for fathers".
The outbursts had been prompted by by Justice John Burns' detailed description of the events leading up to Ms Costigan's death before he handed down a 32 year and two month jail sentence.
While Ms Costigan's family are understandably disappointed Rappel did not receive a life sentence, the prison term is significant and reflected Justice Burns's view the crime fell into the "worst category". Rappel will not be eligible for parole until 2041.
The most surprising aspect of Friday's events in the ACT Supreme Court is that despite having pleaded guilty to the charge of murdering Ms Costigan, the mother of three children, last March and having had two years in custody in which to reflect on the heinous nature of that crime, Rappel appears to have little or no remorse.
His conduct was all about himself; not the daughter, niece, friend and mother whose life was cut tragically short or the three children, including his own daughter, who will now grow up without a mother.
With the Australian National Research Organisation for Women finding, in its Violence Against Women in Australia report, that one in four women had experienced violence involving an intimate partner or former partner it is clear the anti-violence message isn't cutting through to those responsible for the assaults.
The ABS personal safety survey in 2012 found almost two million people, or one in 11, had been subject to violence by a partner since the age of 15. Just under 1.5 million of these were women.
Local figures bear out Ms Batty's claim we are in the grip of an epidemic. Of the 615 offences reported in 2014, 465 were against women. Of these 222 were carried out by a current partner. Another 86 were carried out by an ex-partner. One hundred and thirty two were carried out by other family members including parents and siblings. Most attacks were committed behind closed doors by offenders using their bare hands.
It is tragic that at this stage any hope Ms Costigan's death and its aftermath may have influenced the behaviour of potential perpetrators for the better appears to be very faint indeed.
