Lauren Huxley

On 9 November 2005, Lauren Huxley was a normal 18-year-old Australian studying marketing and enjoying her life.

That evening Lauren was found when fire-fighters were called to a fire at her family's home. They found Lauren in the garage, severely beaten and doused in petrol. Her skull was shattered and her face was unrecognisable.

Lauren required facial reconstruction and extensive surgery and rehabilitation. She has no memory of the attack.

DNA evidence at the scene was linked to Robert Black Farmer, an ex-convict who lived just a few kilometres from the Huxleys. Lauren had never met him before, but it is unclear whether Farmer had targeted Lauren, or if she'd simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time during a burglary.

Evidence also established that Farmer had beaten Lauren repeatedly with metal fibro cutters, before attempting to destroy the crime scene by setting fire to the house.

Farmer was convicted and on 13 June 2008 was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for the assault and attempted murder of Lauren Huxley. He is not eligible for parole for 20 years.

Lauren recently celebrated her twenty-first birthday, and has made a remarkable recovery from her ordeal. While some surgery is still required, Lauren will hopefully begin to put this stage of her life behind her. She is thinking of changing her name so that she can start afresh.

Image: Lauren Huxley learning to drive. Photographer: Darmanin Jeff, source.

This lens supports The Polly Klaas Foundation.