Finding into death of Ju Zhang

Contributing factors

• Intimate partner violence and coercive control
• Stalking and monitoring of communications and movements
• Sexual abuse in the relationship
• Jealous and controlling behaviour by perpetrator
• Awareness of violence by friends and family but lack of reporting to services
• Perpetrator's expressed threats to kill if partner was unfaithful
• Newly formed relationship (two weeks duration)
• Lack of criminalisation of coercive control in Victoria
• Insufficient training of informal supporters to recognise family violence

Coroner's recommendations

1. Further research by the Victorian Government into a comprehensive coercive control framework, with any future legislation implemented alongside improvements to family violence education, training and best practice in the courts
2. Development of a research-based strategy in consultation with victim survivors, informal supporters, priority communities and specialist family violence services to provide targeted services to informal supporters assisting persons affected by family violence
3. Expansion of bystander action and intervention training within mainstream and priority community services, including multicultural and faith communities
4. Implementation of primary prevention initiatives targeting understanding of 'what works' in family violence prevention, including the role of bystanders
5. Continued development of family violence awareness resources for third parties and the community