‘I thought I was going to die’: Security footage reveals disturbing domestic violence abuse
Shocking footage has emerged of a brutal ice-fueled domestic violence attack on a mother and her three children.
Mother-of-three Sonia Gates was forced to barricade herself in her bedroom after ex-husband, Daniel Frewin, arrived unannounced at her home high on ice, agitated and aggressive last year.
He can be seen on the security footage bashing on the door of the home before arming himself with knives and flying into a rage.
Frewin manages to break open a security screen at the Banora Point home.
Once he has gained entry to the home he immediately heads to the kitchen and grabs two large knives.
An angry Frewin then begins to flip furniture over in an attempt to make a barricade to prevent police from entering the property.
He then began trying to kick down the bedroom door where a terrified Gates and her three children were hiding.
The mother managed to barricade herself inside a bedroom with the children by using filing cabinets to stop the door from opening.
Gates was able to alert authorities and officers stormed the residence armed with a taser and gun.
There were able to free the terrified children with the youngest managing to give the rescuers a thumbs up.
Sonia has bravely spoken out against domestic violence in a bid to end the behavior.
"I thought I was going to die, it was pretty petrifying,” the mother told 7 News.
"Saw the knives, heard the yelling, heard the screaming,” she recalls.
"I honestly thought I would be stabbed that night if the police didn't come.”
"The kids were crying, upset”.
Sonia says he'd been violent before and installed the cameras fearing what could happen.
As Queensland reels from a spate of domestic violence deaths, the mother of three says it's time for victims to start recording evidence of abuse.
Frewin surrendered and was arrested.
He has just been sentenced and won't be eligible for parole until January 2018.
The court was played this powerful video.
"I think the footage was a main factor in the sentence because the footage doesn't lie,” the mother told 7 News.
Sonia and the children are still having nightmares and counseling to help with their recovery.
The mother is encouraging other women, who are experiencing domestic violence to try to film the abuse they're subjected to so it can be used as evidence.
"Women are getting smarter. You need to film things and go to the police because we're not putting up with anymore”.
Seven women have been allegedly killed through domestic violence in Queensland in the last month.
"I could have been one of those numbers my kids could have been one of those numbers. It could have been me,” Sonia told 7 News.
Anyone who is in danger is encouraged to contact DV Connect to seek assistance.
News break – April 17
