No family should have to work this hard for a proper investigation into the suspected homicide of a woman they love. Louisa Ioannidis was found dead in the Darebin Creek in Reservoir, Victoria, on October 11, 2011.
From the moment of her death, they swept her under the rug.
In 2014, coroner Paresa Spanos ruled 24-year-old Louisa drowned and no one else was involved.
This is despite Louisa suffering injuries showing a possibility of neck compression.
She was with her partner Youssef Asaad before she died.
Asaad was abusive. He denies any involvement in Louisa’s death.
The coroner who made the original finding has now re-opened the investigation after a petition, media reports, a podcast and ongoing pressure from her family.
“I didn’t believe that she just fell in the creek and drowned,” Louisa’s brother Tass Stouraitis told Australian Story.
Louisa’s family lawyer said: “This is an emotional time for the family and they express their gratitude to all those who have assisted.”
Across Australia, there are thousands of hidden femicides – some are cases you know about and some have never had any publicity.
This year alone, I have documented 10 women who were most likely killed by a male partner or former partner but whom police refuse to properly investigate. Louisa’s case shows the lengths we must go for killed women.
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