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Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at any time you need

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Case file would like to thank the Queensland Police Homicide Investigation Unit, the

White Ribbon Foundation and the family of Leanne Lapham for their assistance and support

in creating this episode and highlighting the issues raised. The names of several witnesses

have been changed.

In 1979, American psychologist Dr. Lanoa Walker developed the cycle of violence, a theory

that explains the patterns of behaviour within an abusive relationship. The cycle consists

of three phases. The first is tension building, as daily issues like employment, finances,

children, illness and misunderstandings cause pressures within a couple to increase. During

this time, verbal, emotional or financial abuse intensifies to a boiling point where release

is inevitable. The cycle then enters the second phase, acute explosion. Abuse peaks as the

abuser establishes their dominance through action. Following this, they may express feelings

of remorse or shame, perhaps bearing their partner may leave or report them to authorities.

They try to justify their actions by blaming external factors before seeking forgiveness,

...