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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Politics
Christopher Knaus

Maria’s niece sought a DVO to protect her. Her ex-partner went out and bought an axe

Maria Costigan
Maria Costigan, whose niece Tara was killed by her ex-partner Marcus Rappel the day after she reluctantly took out a DVO against him. Photograph: Teagan Glenane/The Guardian

Maria Costigan remembers following the ambulance. It was weaving the same path as she was through Canberra’s suburban sprawl.

It was a route Maria had taken countless times to drop in on Tara Costigan, the niece she loved like a daughter.

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