"A CHINESE student who fell to her death while trying to escape a knife-wielding intruder had, with her boyfriend and two female flatmates, been subjected to an hour-long rape ordeal, police believe."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24569300-5013404,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24576868-661,00.htmla

http://news.theage.com.au/national/police-could-have-saved-balcony-victim-20081104-5h9q.html

This is probably the most disturbing piece of news i have read in a long time. probably because i am pretty much in the same situation as the victims, i.e. international student in Sydney Australia. The victim and her boyfriend fell 25meters (80ft?) naked.

multiple police calls were made before they fell. the police arrived quickly at the correct street, but could not find the correct apartment unit so gave up and left. i.e they COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED.

How does one prepare for something like this? Is it even possible? It was such a random, opportunistic and barbaric occurrence.

The perpetrator allegedly held on to his knife through the whole episode. the victims were around 18-20 years old. guns and mace are illegal here.

I know speculation is risky, but I wonder how I would have acted if i was in the victim's shoes. could anything have been done?

Gave up and left?
Well, even in the US there's no expectation of protection, but that is a sorry person who would do that.
Are axes and machetes illegal down under? Maybe a class on unarmed protection that focuses on dirty techniques instead of traditional martial arts.
When the states conspires to leave you defenseless it's a bit harder, but there are things you can do. Not every problem is solved with a gun.

Deeply disturbing. I'm not thinking particularly good thoughts toward the perp right now.

kitchen knives, sport equipment (baseball bat, hockey stick, cricket bat, golf club), pan, wok, many things in normal household can be improvised as weapons.

probably not so good against a gun-wielding intruder, but if you have advantage in numbers, the only thing you also need is the will to fight.

4 victims and only one perp armed with a knife?

Something doesn't smell right.

Three of the victims were asian females. Add element of surprise to that mix.

He probably held the knife to the throat of one, and the others didn't want to be the cause of her death.

But the guy who made the phone call didn't exactly use the time he had very well. "You need to help me" doesn't give a dispatcher or the police much information. "Man with a knife" or "He's going to kill us" would have been more appropriate. People need to learn to get the important information out first, elaborate later, if there's time.

But the perp had to have a lot of nerve to jump the four of them, not really knowing how they would react. Or he's crazy.

But "divide and conquer" can have another meaning, also.

Sue

yes. the thing to bear in mind is that these were really young kids, away from home/family for the first time.

and i did read something about a 'mexican standoff' that happened at one point. 4v1 sounds clear cut, but i guess it isnt always.

Terrible, terrible story. Horizonseeker is right. I think what matters here is intent. If those being victimized were intent on fighting thier attacker, they could've used almost anything as a weapon. A good (yet tragic) reminder that in a survival situation, state of mind is at least 50% of the battle.

Even the BOYfriend was raped ?
Something is not right here.

and still there is something else not right with the story
Lets say you pay three girls and they are there for you to do whatver you like to do , how can you .. I mean how ? Unless you are a superman.


Anyways, I just came to add another prep type comment

If he doesnt have a firearm like in this story, you could use the fire extinguihser against him.

Blind him first and then KABBBOOOOOM !!!!

Fire extinguishders are legally available in all countries, I think.