Meshel Laurie

This is Australian True Crime with Michelle Laurie.

Some of our most memorable episodes have come about because listeners sent us their stories.

Today's guest did just that.

Her name is Sarah Lavis, and she woke up one night to the worst nightmare imaginable.

She joins us to talk about it.

This is Australian True Crime.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast is created, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.

And a warning, this episode of the podcast contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence.

Sarah, I wanted to start with reading out the email that you sent us.

And I'll tell you why, because it's the shortest and most impactful email I think I've ever received.

It's like, it's so short.

And yet when you, by the end of it, you're like, whoa, that is...

full on hi Michelle listening to your recent podcast I found it interesting about the two camps of the courtroom being more victim centric versus not so we talk about that a lot obviously you've noticed you've picked up on that because a lot of victims victims families say it's all about the offender

And Charlie Bozzina, our lovely friend, former homicide detective, says he wishes that there were photos of the victims in the court so everyone could remember who it's really about.

So that's the sort of, they're the conversations we've been having.

Lex Lasry, our former High Court judge, says that's ridiculous, should never happen.

So yeah, there's some pretty strong views.

But you said, I thought I might have a unique perspective as someone who survived a stranger, stalker, rape and strangulation.

As a victim, I wanted the court to be focused on the crime, the perpetrator and the evidence.

I did not want the spotlight to be put on emotional aspects.