An English backpacker who was raped and forced to drive 1,600km through outback Australia has broken her silence on the horrific ordeal.
Speaking to Channel 7’s Sunday Night, Liverpool native Elisha Greer recounted her chance meeting with Marcus Martin at a bush doof near Cairns, and how that 2017 encounter became something much more sinister.
“I thought we were just going to be friends,” Greer told host Mel Doyle.
“But obviously it never turned out like that.”
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The pair began a relationship which quickly turned abusive. Greer said the Cairns man physically and sexually assaulted her in the hotel room they shared, before strangling her to the point of unconsciousness.
Under threats of further violence and convinced of threats to his own safety, Martin forced Greer to drive him out of town. The tourist recalled having a gun pressed to her throat while driving, and recounted having her nose broken by the man.
“I think he scared himself sometimes because of how much damage he was doing,” Greer said.
“But then I also think he felt power from how much damage he was doing.”
When Doyle called Martin was an “animal,” Greer said “He is. He’s not even an animal, animals are nicer than him.”
Fearing for her life, Greer eventually pulled into a petrol station to refuel as Martin hid in the vehicle. She entered the building but left without paying, prompting staff to call the police.
Her vehicle was eventually pulled over.
“We saw blue flashing lights, my heart sank. But in a way of relief,” Greer said.
“Not like, ‘oh now, I’m getting caught,’ sort of thing. It was like ‘oh yes, I’m getting caught.’”
Police asked Greer to drive to the local police station, where they found Martin hiding in the back of the four-wheel-drive.
“That was the first point where I thought ‘maybe I’m alright now,’” Greer said.
Martin was charged and faced Cairns District Court last October. He plead guilty to three counts of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty. A slew of other charges he admitted to, including rape and torture, were dropped when he admitted to those four counts.
He is expected to face sentencing on May 28.
Despite the immeasurable cruelty of her weeks-long abuse by Martin, the experience has not diminished Greer’s love for Australia.
“I’d love to live here, I’d love to,” she said.
“Every country has its own psychos,” she added.
You can catch the full episode here.
If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
