The father of a child who was brutally attacked by her own mother has demanded tougher penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Evie McMahon was assaulted by her mother in 2016 as an eight-month-old. The child was repeatedly beaten with a slotted spoon and her mother's hand, leaving her with black eyes and a bruised face.
Police were called to the scene of the crime after her mother, 28-year-old Lorien Norman, threatened to throw Evie off a balcony, the court heard.
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After pleading guilty to causing harm with intent, Norman left Adelaide District Court with a AU$500 fine and a two-year good behaviour bond - despite the offence carrying a maximum sentence of 13 years.
Adelaide District Court Judge Jack Costello said the mother would not be imprisoned if she adhered to Community Corrections orders and did not reoffend for two years.
Evie's father, Shane McMahon, has since proposed a bill for tougher penalties against domestic abusers.
"We want a mandatory jail sentence for perpetrators," McMahon told Adelaide Now.
The father has worked alongside other legislators in his campaign for stricter mandatory sentencing, gaining the support of one South Australian politician, the Daily Mail reports.
McMahon has called Australia's sentences "pathetic" and "lenient", claiming they "benefit the perpetrator".
An online petition calling for Norman to face a retrial has amassed more than 340,000 signatories.
Evie, now two years old, has started to "come out of her shell". Although the toddler is too young to be psychologically assessed, McMahon says it's evident she is haunted by the attack.
"She still cringes when things go near her face... but she's just a beautiful little girl," he told the Daily Mail.
Evie will be psychologically assessed as a three-year-old next year.
"It's common knowledge for children at the age who are involved in assaults... it can have huge impacts on learning abilities," McMahon told the outlet.
His daughter has started attending playgroup and is preparing to go to preschool in 2020.
"I think all the time about how she's going to be when she's older, and if and when she does see her mother... I'm scared it will trigger something in here," McMahon said.
"But she's doing okay... she's my little angel."
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