A former South Australian Police detective has been jailed for the sustained abuse of his ex-wife, who has since called for sweeping reforms within the police force, saying it failed her and many others.
Stella Magnisalis, who was married to Matthew Alan Thomson, addressed the public outside court this week, saying no sentence could ever reflect the lifelong trauma she has endured.
The ABC reports that Thomson, who previously pleaded guilty to six counts of assault, was sentenced on Monday to two years and three months in prison. He will be eligible for parole in June 2026.
District Court Judge Anthony Allen declined to suspend the sentence, citing the seriousness, frequency and prolonged nature of Thomson’s abuse.
“The seriousness of your offending — noting the frequency, on occasions severity, and length of time of which the offending took place — and the need for general deterrence, means that good reason does not exist to suspend a sentence,” Judge Allen said.
The court heard that Thomson had himself been a victim of domestic violence as a child. Judge Allen referred to this as an “unfortunate irony,” describing the case as an example of intergenerational abuse.
But for Magnisalis, justice goes beyond a jail sentence. She used the court appearance to speak out for victims whose voices are still being silenced.
“I speak today for the women and children still living in fear, for those who were turned away and not believed, for those no longer here,” she said.
“My voice is my power and I’m using it to demand truth, justice and change… This is not toxic masculinity or a bad relationship — it is premeditated, calculated violence.”
She also condemned the institutional failures she encountered when seeking help, alleging that SA Police repeatedly ignored her reports and protected one of their own.
“Officers neglected their duties, defending their own — a discernible pattern of internal bias where serving officers were prioritised over the truth and my safety,” she said.
“The structure doesn’t just fail victims; it enables abuse. It values allegiance above ethics.”
Magnisalis, who began seeking help in 2013, has called for an internal and external review of how South Australian Police handle domestic violence cases.
“How many of us will die before they listen?” she asked. “Officers are ill-equipped, ill-prepared and simply not trained.”
In response, SA Police said it has “robust” investigative procedures in place that are “independently overseen.”
Magnisalis, who now describes herself as a survivor, says she is speaking out not only for herself, but for the countless victims who feel unheard.
“Pure negligence will always be part of my trauma,” she said.
