Tara Did Everything 'Right'

05/15/24 • 35 min

Tara Costigan was murdered in 2015, one day after taking out a DVO on her ex-partner Marcus Rappel. The day he laid a finger on her was the day he murdered her. Before that the abuse had been verbal. Emotional.

Tara did everything ‘right’. She followed advice and took steps in the system designed to protect her, even though she was nervous about how he might react.

And then she died, in the most horrendous of ways, while cradling her one-week-old daughter. Her murder changed the fabric of Canberra and the conversation surrounding domestic violence.

THE END BITS

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CREDITS

Guest: Heidi Lemon author of The First Time He Hit Her

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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Tara did everything ‘right’. She followed advice and took steps in the system designed to protect her, even though she was nervous about how he might react.

And then she died, in the most horrendous of ways, while cradling her one-week-old daughter. Her murder changed the fabric of Canberra and the conversation surrounding domestic violence.

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

Find out more about Mamamia's charity partner RizeUp Australia here.

And if this episode has brought up anything for you or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

CREDITS

Guest: Heidi Lemon author of The First Time He Hit Her

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

Luke Just Wanted A Few Extra Minutes With His Dad

In 2014, 11-year-old Luke Batty was murdered by his father at Tyabb cricket ground on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

The following year a coroner ruled that no one could have predicted that Luke would be killed by his father, but the inquest did point out several gaps in the family violence system in the lead-up to his death.

Ten years on, Luke's mother Rosie remains on the frontline campaigning for change.

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

Find out more about Mamamia's charity partner RizeUp Australia here.

And if this episode has brought up anything for you or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

CREDITS

Guest: Rosie Batty

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Episode

Jennifer & Jack Edwards Had Just Come Home From School

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“It’s my husband,” she told police. “It’s my husband. We have the final court hearing in two weeks.”

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

Find out more about Mamamia's charity partner RizeUp Australia here.

And if this episode has brought up anything for you or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

CREDITS

Guest: Sally Rawsthorne

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at [email protected] or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.