The family of a transgender woman who was allegedly assaulted in Risdon Prison before her 2018 death is calling for a coronial inquest.
Rosemary Harwood says her daughter Marjorie Harwood refused life-saving medical care for a kidney condition due to the fear of being sent back to the facility where she had allegedly been sexually assaulted the previous year.
Harwood believes that her daughter “would still be alive today” if she had been recognised as female and housed in a women’s prison, lodging a formal request for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case on Tuesday.
“Every time I went for visits she’d show me marks on her body”, Rosemary recounted when describing her visits to her daughter, who had spent five months in jail in 2017 and had reported being assaulted and raped by male inmates.
“She’d tell me she’d been assaulted and she’d say ‘mum, they’re killing me’,” Harwood said.
“I’m hoping that no other parent has to go through what I’ve been through and there’s no parent should have to bury their child before them.”
According to advocates newly uncovered information, along with prison records, shows that authorities were aware of Marjorie’s transgender status but still placed her within the male inmate population.
A Justice Department spokesperson says the coroner will consider the request.
Support services
These services provide help to victims of sexual assault
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Sexual Assault Counselling Australia: 1800 211 028
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre: (02) 6247 2525
- Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
- LGBTIQ+ Violence Service: 1800 497 212
- Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817
