Woman bound and gagged picture causes outrage
A "disturbing" image of a woman bound and gagged in the back of a ute has sparked outrage in Townsville.
A "disturbing" image of a woman bound and gagged in the back of a ute has sparked outrage.
The picture, which looks stunningly life-like, shows a girl laying on her side with her feet and hands tied up with a shovel by her side.
Townsville motorists have been shocked by the imagery, which has prompted a raft of complaints to police.
However authorities are powerless in forcing the image to be removed, saying there was no law against "bad taste".
"There is no legislation that covers it,” Senior Sergeant Tony Melrose told News Corp.
"In a free society, bad taste is difficult to legislate against.
"If it was a picture of a real person and that person was concerned, it would be different, but given it is a fictitious image there is not a lot that can be done."
One resident said a friend sent her a photo of the image last week.
"I was horrified that anybody would think that was appropriate and would want to have that kind of violent image displayed on their vehicle and have ownership of that," Jane Chester said.
"From a distance you possibly would think it is real ... I felt quite threatened (at first).
"It is bad enough that there are people living with the pain and fear of domestic violence without them having to see this image condoning and glorifying abuse.
"I have three little girls and I just really worry that they will see it and ask me what it is.
"To have gone to those lengths to do something that is so offensive is just awful."
