Corinna Horvath attack: Woman bashed by police receives apology 18 years on
A woman bashed by Victorian police officers almost two decades ago has received compensation and an apology from Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.
In March 1996, police arrived at Corinna Horvath's home in the Melbourne suburb of Somerville, broke down her door without a warrant, handcuffed her and hit her up to a dozen times, leaving her unconscious and with a broken nose pouring with blood.
Ms Horvath was 21 at the time and has been fighting for compensation and recognition of wrongdoing ever since.
Her lawyers took the case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which issued a damning finding against Victoria's police force earlier this year.
Last week, she received a letter of apology from Commissioner Lay as well as an undisclosed sum in compensation.
Commissioner Lay's letter read: "I deeply regret what occurred and sincerely apologise for the injuries you suffered as a result."
Ms Horvath said she was still coming to terms with the apology.
"I was quite blown away that is has actually happened," Ms Horvath said.
"It's them admitting they did the wrong thing, and I think that's important because they did do the wrong thing."
Victim still wants disciplinary action against officers
Ms Horvath said she wanted Victoria Police to hold disciplinary proceedings against the officers who assaulted her.
"It's not the end of it to me it's just opening a whole can of worms," she said.
"I think he needs to, he being David Jenkin [one of the offending officers], needs to sit a disciplinary hearing where he has to tell the truth."
A police spokesman said the three officers involved were still serving and no further discipline was planned.
