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THE ALPINE
BRIGHT - POREPUNKAH - MT BEAUTY - TAWONGA - TAWONGA SOUTH Thursday, March 17, 2022
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Throw away the key Child survivor’s fight to see her attacker spend life behind bars A CHILD killer who attacked a Bright teenager on the Germantown Bridge some 33 years ago will spend the rest of his life behind bars, after attempts to overturn an indefinite sentence were struck out at Queensland Supreme Court last week. Donna Rupp was only 13-yearsold when she was set upon in broad daylight at knifepoint by Lloyd Clark Fletcher, now 64, as she returned home after visiting a friend in Bright in 1989. Fletcher, who would later be found guilty of the 1987 murder of 15-year-old Janet Phillips in Queensland, retreated after Ms Rupp mimed ‘HELP’ to a passerby, which ultimately saver her life. Fletcher would serve four years in Victorian prison for the attack on Ms Rupp, while a series of attacks during parole periods, as well as the rape and murder of Ms Phillips, would ultimately see him commence a concurrent life sentence and indefinite sentence in Queensland in 1998. Ms Rupp, now a successful businesswoman and mother, said the court’s decision last week to deny Fletcher’s application, which had been filed on grounds of having a terminal illness, was a huge relief. “It was fabulous, it was incredible,” she said of her response to the news. “I can sleep a bit easier now - I am hoping it will set a precedent for future similar cases.” Ms Rupp began a petition to deny
BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
the application, after she was contacted by Queensland media notifying her of Fletcher’s request. It received more than 27,500 signatures. She said the outpouring of community support had played a vital role in ensuring Fletcher would never be able to cause further trauma in the community. “I thought a petition would be a good start - I got in touch with Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party and they advocated for me - I put it on all of the community noticeboards in the area,” Ms Rupp said. “Everyone understood it was a very sensitive matter. “Keeping him behind bars was so important - to protect other vulnerable young children and young women in the community. “Bright’s a small town, and it happened in the middle of the afternoon. “It could happen to anyone.” Ms Rupp believes the unresolved trauma she suffered at the hands of Fletcher played a major part of an eventual cancer diagnosis, which occurred when she was six months pregnant. After delivering a healthy baby
daughter and conquering the deadly disease, Ms Rupp said she was prepared to fight tooth and nail to see Fletcher remain in custody. “It put enormous pressure and stress on me, because I bottled it up,” she said. “Some of the old locals remember that day - I didn’t talk about it for a very long time and I had a lot of trauma unresolved. “I had a real fear of unfamiliar men, I would have panic attacks and nightmares. “Everyone’s got their own opinion on cancer - it was a confronting time, you’re looking at potentially exiting this world, at the same time you are bringing a child into the world.” Following an outpouring of support both locally and throughout Australia, Ms Rupp believes the implementation of a neighbourhood watch, particularly in smaller alpine communities, could go a long way to preventing similar attacks in the future. “I hope my story will encourage other young children to always be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, regardless of the time of day... And to be able to seek out help if something doesn’t feel or seem right,” she said. RELIEF: Donna Rupp at the scene where convicted murderer Lloyd Clark Fletcher attempted to abduct her at knifepoint when she was just 13 years old. PHOTO: Jenny Zamperoni
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