A Father's Nightmare: Confronting an Intruder in His Daughter's Nursery
Ten years ago, Benjamin Batterham's life was irrevocably altered when he discovered a convicted rapist emerging from his seven-month-old daughter's bedroom. What began as a terrifying home invasion spiraled into a wrongful murder prosecution that haunted Batterham for years, culminating in a recent secret payout after being cleared of all charges.
The Fateful Night That Changed Everything
On March 26, 2016, Benjamin Batterham was celebrating his 33rd birthday at his Hamilton, Australia home with a friend when convicted criminal Ricky Slater broke into the property. Slater, who had been released from prison just three months earlier and had a history of violent offenses including rape, was high on drugs and armed with three knives.
Batterham's fiancée Monique Cameron and their infant daughter were fortunately staying next door at his parents' house when Slater entered the home and made straight for the baby's nursery. "Very big bloke. Standing there. It was more than a shock," Batterham recalled of the moment he came face-to-face with the intruder. "I was quite fearful for my daughter, and Monique, and at the time myself."
The Chase and Confrontation
When asked if his head was "exploding" upon seeing Slater emerge from his daughter's room, Batterham confirmed: "It was. It was doing backflips. I remember saying 'hey' and I've jumped up and started to chase him."
The apprentice chef pursued Slater through several streets while calling police, eventually tackling him to the ground in an attempt to make a citizen's arrest. A violent struggle ensued, with Batterham later describing: "A few headbuts, a few bites, he tried to snap my thumb back towards my wrist. Quite rough." He maintained he struck Slater several times but did not have him in a chokehold.
From Home Defender to Murder Defendant
When police arrived and handcuffed Slater, they discovered he was unresponsive. The intruder suffered the first of three cardiac arrests that would ultimately claim his life the following day. Batterham was immediately arrested and eventually charged with murder.
"I broke down and said, 'Look, I didn't do it,'" Batterham remembered of his arrest. "I would say when I was sitting on the truck, on the way to prison, like, this is really happening. I had lost my freedom, lost my job, lost my house, normality was just blown away that night."
Public outrage grew over Batterham's incarceration, and he was released on bail after six weeks, though he had to go into hiding due to death threats. During this period, his fiancée Monique brought their daughter to visit him in prison weekly, where the child spoke her first word: "dad."
The Trial and Acquittal
During the November 2019 murder trial, medical experts determined Slater's death resulted from high levels of methamphetamine in his system combined with a pre-existing heart condition from years of drug abuse. The court found Batterham had acted lawfully and returned a not guilty verdict.
Justice Fagan stated Batterham should never have been charged with murder, noting: "Having seen and heard the evidence of all the eyewitnesses it does not appear to me that the restraint applied by Mr Batterham was excessive." The judge acknowledged some blows may have exceeded necessary force but emphasized they played no role in causing Slater's death.
Jurors were not informed during trial that Slater had previously raped a girl in 2007 after forcing his way into her home and threatening to stab her.
Aftermath and Settlement
Batterham recently filed a civil claim against the State of New South Wales seeking damages for wrongful prosecution, reaching a confidential settlement. Despite his legal vindication, the past decade has taken a severe toll - Batterham suffers from PTSD and his relationship with Monique has broken down.
When asked about regrets, Batterham remained steadfast: "No - I've done what any father would have done." Reflecting on whether chasing the intruder was a mistake, he added: "Someone breaks into your home, that's your castle, that's your home, people should always defend their home, no matter what."
The case continues to raise questions about self-defense laws, prosecutorial discretion, and the lasting trauma experienced by those wrongfully accused of serious crimes.
