The West Australian reporter Annabel Hennessy nominated for two Walkley Awards for Jody Gore stories

One of The West Australian’s Federal political reporters, Annabel Hennessy, was nominated today for two prestigious Walkley Awards for journalism for her exclusive investigation into the incarceration of an indigenous woman who was sentenced to life in jail after killing her abusive ex-partner in what she claimed was self-defence.

The harrowing four-part series KILL OR BE KILLED? detailed the 20 years of violence Kununurra woman Jody Gore endured at the hands of her ex-partner Damian Jones before she was jailed for stabbing him in the heart with a 10cm vegetable knife after he beat her one final time.

Hennessy spent three months researching Ms Gore’s life and her relationship with Mr Jones.

Her articles told the story the court never heard at Ms Gore’s trial — the decades-long violence and mental health issues which plagued her abusive relationship.

It described how Ms Gore lived in daily fear from Mr Jones, who had bashed her with a golf club, chased her with an iron rod, used a knife to cut her and punched her in her sleep.

• KILL OR BE KILLED? Chapter One: The incarceration of Jody Gore
• KILL OR BE KILLED? Chapter Two: The massive jury twist
• KILL OR BE KILLED? Chapter Three: Did health system failings cost two lives?
• KILL OR BE KILLED? Chapter four: Crisis centre files to be a focus of Jody Gore’s appeal

The exhaustive reporting led the WA Government to invoke rarely used mercy laws to free Ms Gore from prison in a landmark decision by Attorney-General John Quigley.

Mr Quigley said he only became aware of Ms Gore’s case after reading about it in The West Australian.

The 47-year-old former childcare worker had served four years of a 12-year non-parole period for Mr Jones’ murder.

Hennessy, 26, is in the running to win the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year after being shortlisted in the Public Service category.

She was also nominated for the Our Watch award for the country’s most significant reporting on domestic violence.

WA-raised Hennessy started her career in Perth at The Sunday Times as a part-time real estate reporter while studying at university.

She moved to NSW and worked for several years at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph before joining The West Australian’s Canberra bureau last year.

Hennessy said the investigation was a “collaborative effort” which would not have been possible without the help of Curtin University’s Dr Hannah McGlade and the University of WA associate professor Stella Tarrant.

“Speaking openly about personal experiences of domestic violence remains taboo in many parts of our country so I would like to thank Jody Gore and her family for trusting me,” she said.

“For years Jody had never spoken about the violence she endured.

“Allowing me to publish intimate details of her relationship on the front page of our paper was an act of bravery.”

West Australian Newspapers editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie said the nominations were recognition of Hennessy’s tenacious journalism and tireless work.

“Annabel is among the very best young reporters in Australia,” he said.

“Her landmark series KILL OR BE KILLED? was a poignant reminder of the tragedy that is domestic violence and the vicious cycle of abuse some women are trapped in.

“To help free Jody from prison and reunite her with her family was a remarkable achievement by Annabel.”

The winners will be announced on June 17.