In this episode of Tumble Upward, we step inside the legal concept of self-defence—and what happens when the law fails to recognise survival.

Joined by a law professor and criminal lawyer, we examine two powerful Australian cases involving women who killed abusive partners—yet received completely different outcomes. One was acquitted. The other was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Through these cases, we unpack how self-defence works in the legal system, including concepts like imminence and proportionality, and why these standards often fall short in situations of long-term abuse and coercive control.

We also explore the role of jury perception, media narratives, and systemic bias—questioning whether justice is applied equally, and who the system truly protects.

This isn’t a story about crime. It’s a conversation about survival, and what it costs to fight back.