Battered, bruised, then banned from seeing her kids. How did Virginia Giuffre get here?
Every day, judges at Perth Magistrates’ Court make decisions that have life-changing consequences.
For Virginia Giuffre, the attack on January 14, 2025, without her knowledge, was particularly devastating.
On January 9, Jeffrey Epstein’s leading accuser was allegedly assaulted by her husband, Robbie Giuffre, during a family holiday in the Western Australian seaside town of Dunsborough. Bruised and battered, Virginia then went to the local hospital, claiming she had broken her sternum.
When Robbie walked out of court five days later, he had a domestic violence restraining order in place. But it wasn’t against him. Instead, Virginia was banned from seeing her children for six months. How?
This question is from Good Weekend senior writer and Walkley Award winner Melissa FyfeAnd WAtoday journalist Carla HildebrandtCheck it out in the third part. Age And Sydney Morning Herald‘s investigative podcast, Virginia.
Robbie was not charged with assault by police following the events of January 9, but police issued him with a 72-hour restraining order.
This expired a few hours before Robbie entered court on 14 January, but this information was not disclosed to the magistrate; There was also an incident in Colorado in 2015 where Robbie was charged with assault, jailed, and temporarily banned from seeing Virginia by local law enforcement.
Like many services across Western Australia, Perth Magistrates’ Court is under pressure due to the extent of domestic violence.
WA Police attend approximately 80,000 calls related to domestic and family violence every year – one every six minutes. In 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found the state had Australia’s worst rate of family and domestic assault.
During the 20-minute ex parte hearing, held in the absence of the alleged abusers to keep the victims safe, Robbie told the judge he was afraid of Virginia and that his children were at risk.
The judge heard Robbie’s case and gave him the order; This meant Virginia was unable to return home or contact her two youngest children, aged 15 and 17, for six months.
“[The six-month family violence restraining order] “It was the worst thing that could have happened to her,” says Amanda Roberts, who is married to Virginia’s brother, Sky Roberts.
“Her children were her life… This was the worst damage done.”
When Virginia learned of this, she immediately objected to the order. However, due to delays, Virginia’s trial was postponed six months later, to July 11, 2025. It was the same length as the decision itself.
Virginia died before this trial could take place.
new episodes Virginia It is published every Saturday Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WATodayor wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen to episode three in the player above, where hosts Fyfe and Hildebrandt explain how Virginia and Robbie’s family life in Perth ended in such a bitter place, the contents of Robbie’s seven-page affidavit that made the domestic violence verdict possible, and how the Australian legal system is failing domestic violence victims or Click here.
A statement provided to us by Robbie’s lawyer reads: “Due to Virginia’s behavior in January 2025, it was necessary for the courts to take protective measures to protect Robert and the children from harm.”
Robbie’s lawyer also said in a statement that Virginia suffered “significant mental health issues and an over-reliance on prescription medications” due to the pressure of being in the public eye, and that “this may have caused Virginia to change her perspective.”
The statement said Robbie was limited from responding to the “various false allegations” for legal reasons, but he and his children just want to “remember Virginia as a loving wife and mother.”
If you or anyone you know needs support you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Advisory Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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Carla Hildebrandt is a journalist at WAtoday. She previously worked as a courts reporter for the ABC’s Four Corners and for The Daily Telegraph in Sydney. For secure communication: carlahildebrandt@proton.me.Connect via email.
