A domestic violence survivor, who killed her husband, is facing deportation to New Zealand after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton cancelled her visa to stay in Australia.
South-Africa born Eileen Creamer killed her husband David in February 2008 after his repeated demands to join in group sex.
During her trial in 2011, she told the court they had an open marriage where her husband often encouraged her to pursue affairs with other men, constantly harassed her to have sex with other men while he watched, and posted revealing photos of her on the internet in order to lure men into having sex with her.
In February 2008, she and her husband had an argument over his demand of group sex when she attacked her husband with a south African weapon called ‘knobkerrie’ and then stabbed him with a kitchen knife.
She was convicted of defensive homicide in 2011 after the jury accepted she had been subjected to domestic violence.
She was sentenced to 11 years in prison and became eligible for parole in April last year, ABC News reports.
However, her visa to stay in Australia was cancelled after changes were made to the Migration Act where a person's visa is automatically cancelled if they have been sentenced to at least 12 months in prison, meaning they fail a so-called "character test".
Creamer has approached the Federal Court to appeal against Dutton’s decision to cancel her visa.
Her lawyer Dushan Nikolic told ABC News his client was not asking for special treatment but a second chance.
"She's a woman who's been a victim of family violence who acted out believing that was her last resort. She poses no risk to the Australian community," he said.
"And I doubt whether the Australian community, being fully aware of the facts and the violence that she suffered, would expect her visa to be cancelled."
Domestic Violence Campaigner Rosie Batty too has come out in her support and called on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to let Creamer stay.
The matter is before the court and Federal Court Judge Bernard Murphy has reserved his decision to a later date.
If you or someone you know needs help, get in touch with 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732, Crisis Line: 1800 811 811 or Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
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