Everyday thousands of women across Australia face domestic violence with no way of defending themselves. On A Current Affair it's the story of one brave woman who grew tired of running and fought back, protecting herself and her children with a video camera. Readers seeking support and information about domestic violence prevention can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. Families stalked by fractured fathers Mother records terrifying domestic abuse A battered mother who was tired of running from her violent partner defended herself with the only means she could by creating a video diary of every frightening encounter. Elisha Gercovich and her two children have been on the run from her aggressive partner Carlo Corsa, forced to move seven times in 21 days. In spite of the courts placing an intervention order on him, Corsa continues to pursue her and her family, allegedly tracking them down and breaking into their temporary sanctuaries. "I had to become smarter to survive. I was terrified. I had to be smarter than my perpetrator," the brave mother told A Current Affair. The daughter of a policeman, Ms Gercovich knew she could only fight back with passive resistance and decided to record her encounters with her pursuant so she could later use them as evidence. In one instance Ms Gercovich filmed herself barricaded in behind a door while Corsa threatened her and smashed her house to pieces on the other side. "Open the f---ing door up now," he yelled through barrier. "I'm not opening it Carlo I am petrified for my life." Once, this fractured couple was very much in love, but when the romance wore off Corsa's real persona was revealed. "I noticed that medications were taken, medications that I needed and required, hidden. Property was taken, my jewellery, wallet. My credit cards were snapped — that was a means of control," Ms Gercovich said. Her affections turned for another man and Corsa became suspicious. One night when she was on her way out to meet up with a girlfriend, Corsa waited in the backyard, ready to pounce. When Ms Gercovich stepped out into the night, he hit her in the face giving her a black eye. "And everything that I had hoped and dreamt for in this person was gone in that one punch," She said. "How is it fair? How is it fair that I have to lose everything but I didn't do anything wrong?" But this terrified mother and her children are not lone sufferers in Australia. According to an Australian Bureau of Statistic survey in 2005, one in three women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15 while another study shows one woman is killed every week as a result of domestic violence. This week the Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews pledged a royal commission into family violence following death of 11-year-old Luke Batty at the hands of his father. Chilling video diary that shows the true terror of domestic violence: Mother-of-two records every encounter with her knife-wielding ex as she is forced to move house seven times in 21 days Elisha Gercovich, stalked by knife-wielding ex, films video diary of abuse

• published: 20 May 2014
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