“She was my world, she was my girl”.
These are the heartfelt words from a father who lost his young daughter way too soon.
Dominic Porter has been fighting a system he says has failed his family. A Current Affair
Bridgette Charlise Adele Porter, known as Biddy, died when she was just 10 at the hands of a 14-year-old girl.
Ever since, her dad, Dominic Porter, has been fighting a system he says has failed his family.
It took the Porter family four years to overturn a suppression order, allowing them to talk publicly about their daughter.
“The suppression order that was apparently there to protect us did f— all, it did absolutely nothing to protect us,” Porter said.
“It protected the perpetrator and her family, and that’s all it’s done.”
Porter can’t get the police interview with his daughter’s killer out of his head.
“Overrun with anger and wanting to take out revenge, I’ll be 100 per cent honest,” he said.
“I got to a point where I knew I was ready to do something that was violent and criminal.”
The 14-year-old girl was found guilty but not criminally responsible for Biddy’s death due to mental impairment.
“We just felt like we were misled by the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), and the whole process,” Porter said.
“This sums up the last six years as well, the whole process is too hard for people to comprehend.
Biddy (pictured) died at the hands of a 14-year-old girl. A Current Affair
“We went through several years where we legally weren’t allowed to say Biddy’s name.
“It just makes no sense.”
The conviction meant the killer was put under the care of the mental health tribunal.
Now, every six months, Biddy’s family has to front up for a review of her mental state.
Before Biddy’s murder, Porter was a bank manager.
He will never forget the day the police turned up to break the news.
“I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t process it,” Porter said.
For years, Dominic wasn’t allowed to say his murdered daughter’s name. A Current Affair
Porter’s life crumbled and he eventually lost his job.
He was then diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Over time, Porter’s mental health deteriorated, and he tried to take his own life.
“I couldn’t do it anymore, I just wanted to be with Biddy,” he said.
While his life fell apart, his daughter’s killer was receiving treatment and care.
He said she was even placed on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“In my mind, it just doesn’t pass the pub test,” Porter said.
Dominic’s life crumbled after Biddy was killed. A Current Affair
“Why is the perpetrator or criminal given much more rights than the victim?
“We’re forced to fund all this stuff ourselves, which is impossible.”
Porter applied for, and received, a $300,000 NDIS package.
He was promised the budget would be managed and he wouldn’t have to worry.
“I thought, $300,000, there’s no way in three years I’m gonna ever access or need to spend that.”
But according to Porter, his NDIS package is a joke.
He said it doesn’t cover one thing he so desperately needs: therapy for the mental burden he now carries.
“There’s roughly about $200,000 worth of funding there, rough figures, that I can’t use for the therapies that I actually need,” Porter said.
Porter even had to threaten self-harm before he was taken seriously.
“That’s not justice, and that’s not morally right,” he said.
He says navigating the NDIS quagmire has been a massive hurdle.
“I come from a corporate background, I can’t get my head around it,” Porter said.
Porter wants the system for victims of crime changed.
“I don’t think victims should actually be managed under the NDIS,” he said.
Dominic wants his daughter Biddy to be remembered. A Current Affair
“Personally, I think there should be a whole separate thing for especially heinous crimes.”
An inquest into Biddy’s killing is about to be held.
In another nightmare for Porter and Biddy’s mum, Rebekah, it looks like they will have to foot the legal bill.
“The quote we got from the lawyers is $17,500 each,” Porter said.
“That was when legal aid was going to provide some funding.
“I was informed yesterday legal aid isn’t going to provide any funding, so that fee may then increase.”
The killer will receive free legal representation.
Biddy with her mum, Rebekah. A Current Affair
Porter said he has been treated “horrendously” by the system after his daughter’s murder.
“The system needs to change, and not just for me, for other families,” he said.
“I can’t change what happened to Biddy, I don’t have control over that.
“What she would want, and what I want is a better system that is victim-centric and that looks after victims, and we’re just not left to fend for ourselves with minimal to no support.”
Porter now wants victim support laws re-examined and he wants Biddy remembered.
“People don’t even know Biddy existed,” Porter said.
“They don’t know what happened to her, but it was the least publicised murder known to Australia.”
Dominic is pushing for change to honour Biddy’s memory. Supplied
With the help of the Homicide Victims Support Group, which has provided crucial financial support, Porter’s focus is helping others.
“That’s what Biddy would have wanted,” he said.
The inquest begins next week at the NSW coroner’s court.
It is expected to last five days.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).