Tame testifies about threatening tweets from abuser at court hearing
Grace Tame testified about tweets her abuser timed to her book tour with references to her old school email.
Grace Tame gave evidence at Hobart Magistrates Court about social media posts allegedly sent by Nicolaas Ockert Bester, who sexually abused her in 2010 when she was 15. Three Twitter messages from an account linked to Bester referenced her old school email and included countdowns matching her book tour release dates.
Tame said she realised the 10-week and four-week references were timed to scare her. Police found a folder named wraak (Afrikaans for revenge) on Bester's devices.
It held media coverage of Tame and copies of private messages from the abuse. Bester, now 74, was sentenced in 2011 to two years and ten months for the abuse.
He has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend but pleaded not guilty.
- 2010, when Tame was 15
- Abuse year
- Two years and ten months in 2011
- Initial sentence
- 74 at time of court hearing
- Bester's age
Why it mattersSurvivors of abuse who speak publicly often face ongoing harassment from perpetrators, highlighting gaps in legal protection even after conviction.
AustraliaThe case reveals that Australian abuse survivors speaking publicly may face ongoing threats for years after their abuser's conviction.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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