The child abuse trial heard from multiple personalities. Photo: ABC News/Sharon Gordon
A Newcastle man, whose sexual abuse of his children led to one developing dissociative identity disorder (DID), has been sentenced to 21 years in jail.
In December, a Newcastle District Court jury found the man, who can only be named as SN, guilty of the child sexual abuse of siblings, known to the court as LN and AB.
During a five-week trial LN, who has been diagnosed with DID, was sworn in as separate identities, known as alters.
She gave evidence as a woman in her 30s, a five-year-old child and a 13-year-old girl.
She called her identities "system members", created in response to severe, prolonged trauma.
The jury accepted LN's DID diagnosis and found SN guilty of 23 charges involving child sexual abuse.
Personalities caught in a 'horror' story
LN today condemned her father in a victim impact statement, describing a life of horror and isolation.
"The whole scenario seems like the blurb on the back of a book," she said.
"It is a book of horror though and not one I would choose to read."
LN said each of her "system members" had suffered.
"I don't think our experiences can ever be put into words by me for the suffering our system holds in different ways," she said.
"I don't feel words can cover the profound and enduring suffering we have been left with."
Newcastle District Court heard LN created alters to survive alleged abuse by her father, spanning several years. Photo: ABC News/Michael Parfitt
LN today also paid tribute to other alters who did not speak during the trial.
"I hope what I say also gives a nod to system members who cannot openly communicate at this time," she said.
'I used to be happy'
After giving a victim impact statement today as herself, LN switched to her 13-year-old alter.
Her voice changed pitch, she sobbed and paused, her vocabulary filled with attitude and slang.
"I used to be happy. I did used to be happy, you know. I am not happy no more.
"I can't do it no more, I don't want to be touched no more.
"You took away everything that made me happy.
"You just keep lying and you don't even say sorry."
She ended firmly and abruptly.
"I am done … that's all you got."
Intimidation, abuse and isolation
In sentencing, Judge Ian Bourke said the father's behaviour was depraved and not "isolated aberrations".
"All of the offences involved a grave breach of trust and authority, given that the offender was their father," the judge said.
"It has been said that sex abuse by a father of their own child involves a breach of trust of the highest order.
District Court Judge Ian Bourke presided over the trial where the same witness was sworn in under different personalities. Photo: ABC News
"All of the offences occurred in a location that was the victim's home, where she was entitled to feel safe.
"I have no doubt the offender had actual knowledge his sexual acts with LN were without her consent."
Justice Bourke said both children were subjected to intimidation, physical and emotional abuse, and isolation.
He also referred to alleged offending in Western Australia and Queensland saying "proceedings are either on foot or maybe commenced" in those states.
Landmark case
The case was the first of its kind in Australia.
There was a case in 2019 involving a woman given permission to give evidence as different personalities against her father, but no alters were sworn in after her father pleaded guilty mid-trial.
That woman delivered victim impact statements as different alters - a different process to giving evidence.
During the trial of SN, LN told the court she had at least 22 alternate identities and there could be more.
SN has maintained his innocence.
Their father will be eligible for release in 2038.
- ABC
