Daughter of murdered midwife struggles as father's appeal drags on
Romany Wake says her father's pending appeal over the murder of her mother, Rachel Wake, is prolonging her trauma.
Nearly five years after Darren Wake murdered his wife Rachel on Christmas Day 2021, his appeal against a 26-year prison term is still pending, extending the anguish of their daughter Romany. The appeal, lodged in 2024, has been stalled by a dispute over legal-aid funding and the father's desire to select his own lawyer, prompting Romany to criticize the disparity between his options and her mother's lack of choice. The case returns to court on Friday, while Romany, who operates the Rachel's Voice social media page, says the indefinite delay hampers her recovery.
She cites recent local homicides, including a stabbing in Exeter, as compounding her distress and highlights a pattern of fleeting political attention to gender-based violence. Siobhan Mackay of Women's Legal Service Tasmania warned that prolonged legal battles can trap survivors in trauma, a view echoed by Romany’s advocacy work, which includes a midwifery scholarship and calls for reform of restraining order procedures.
Why it matters
The prolonged appeal underscores how lengthy legal processes can deepen trauma for victims' families and highlights systemic issues in addressing gender-based violence.
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