A young woman who years ago captured the hearts of the nation on Australian idol is calling for urgent changes to Victoria’s justice system after a vicious pub assault.
Casey Freeman, 36, had travelled to the ‘big smoke’ from Nowhere Creek – northwest of Ballarat in country Victoria – in her 20s when she dazzled the television judges with her raw honesty and powerful voice.
She now suffers from a permanent head injury after a man allegedly bashed her at trendy St Kilda pub The Vineyard in November.
Casey Freeman after being assaulted at a trendy St Kilda bar in November
Casey Freeman performed on Australian Idol in 2008. She had come from her home town in Nowhere Creek
Police released this photograph in November of Jed Vanter after he allegedly bashed Casey Freeman and a St Kilda barman
Daily Mail Australia has obtained CCTV footage of the alleged attack, which shows Freeman being knocked out from a powerful haymaker that smashed her eye socket to pieces.
The blow was allegedly delivered by Jed Vanter, 30, of St Kilda.
Ms Freeman had allegedly attempted to protect a 46-year old barman, who only moments earlier had asked the belligerent patron to leave the premises.
Police will allege Vanter violently assaulted him before turning on Ms Freeman and fleeing.
Vanter was arrested after a manhunt saw his image plastered across media outlets nationwide.
He was charged with one count of affray, two counts of intentionally causing injury and two counts of recklessly causing injury.
Vanter is due to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next week.
Freeman has come forward in the hope of sparking a nationwide conversation about implementing harsher penalties for men who bash women and promote ideas on how to make women feel safer while out.
‘I want the laws to change because it happens so often – guys assaulting women,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The guys just seem to always get away with it. I’m hoping that by people watching this video it can really get people to change their thoughts on it.’
Melbourne has been long scarred by horrific attacks by men against women, with several murders shocking the nation over recent months.
‘There is nothing to deter them because they know that they’re just going to get away with it and it needs to change,’ Ms Freeman said.
Casey Freeman as she appeared on Australian Idol. Since appearing she continues to perform at small gigs and recently helped out at a charity event for the Melbourne Homeless Collective
Casey Freeman had been enjoying a quiet night out with friends at a St Kilda night spot when she was savagely attacked by a man
Casey Freeman continues to suffer from the injuries she sustained in the senseless attack in November
Victoria’s justice system has long been criticised for its slant regard for victims of crime, with many violent attackers walking free on community orders or good behaviour bonds.
‘They always have some sort of mental health issues and then they get like a six month bond to have some free health sessions – “We’ll pay to make you feel better”,’ Ms Freeman said.
The talented singer, who is now studying for a career in helping animals, spent 10 hours in the emergency department ‘vomiting blood’ after her attack.
‘He could of killed me. The next person he hits, he could kill and I just don’t want this person to be able to hit another person,’ she said.
Ms Freeman said thugs who attacked women at pubs ought be identified as violent offenders upon entering licensed venues.
‘They should have to walk into a bar and say “I’m a violent person and I shouldn’t be allowed around women”,’ she said.
‘There should be something where people are forewarned that people are dangerous and others have the right to walk away from them and don’t have to put up with that.’
The system could work similar to the existing sex offenders register, which aims to limit their potential risk on the community.
‘They could do a register, where they have to declare it and the bar can be like “No, there are too many women here tonight and ask him not to come in”,’ Ms Freeman said.
With the rapid development of technology brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea is not beyond range.
Ms Freeman said the process would allow venues to make more informed decisions and keep their customers safe.
On the night she was attacked, Ms Freeman said she had tried to be friendly to the man who would later assault her.
He had allegedly joined her group uninvited and quickly became abusive.
When she called the bartender and he asked him to leave, the man struck out.
‘I tried to grab or stop him … but he 360 swung and knocked me out,’ Ms Freeman said.
Casey Freeman after being savagely assaulted at a trendy St Kilda pub in November
Casey Freeman has been a generous contributor to the Melbourne Homeless Collective, which works to eliminate homelessness, domestic violence, and social disadvantage
Casey Freeman still loves to perform, but her life took a major step back after she was brutally punched by a man
Ms Freeman said she required her eye socket to be reconstructed after the attack and her vision would be impaired for the rest of her life.
‘I see double now and just have to live with it,’ she said.
Ms Freeman said she was disgusted that her alleged tormentor was allowed to send her a message via the police expressing remorse over the attack.
‘I’m not even allowed to know his first name but he’s allowed to send me messages through the police,’ she said.
Ms Freeman further called on Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions not to offer any kind of plea deal that might lead to her alleged assailant pleading guilty to lesser charges.
‘It’s not good enough. It’s not a deterrent and he’ll happily just go out and do it again thinking that lawyers and police are on his side. The victims are not looked after. The perpetrators are. It’s ridiculous.’
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