A father confronted a convicted rapist emerging from his baby daughter’s nursery, leading to a violent struggle and an unexpected tragedy that upended his life. Ben Batterham, celebrating his 33rd birthday at his home in Hamilton, Australia, on March 26, 2016, faced the intruder alongside a friend.
The Home Invasion
Ben’s fiancée, Monique Cameron, and their seven-month-old daughter stayed next door at Ben’s parents’ house that night. As Ben and his friend prepared for bed, Ricky Slater broke into the property. Slater, high on drugs and armed with three knives, had been released from prison just three months earlier. He had a prior conviction for raping a girl in 2007 after breaking into her home and threatening her with a knife, along with other offenses.
Slater headed directly to the nursery, grabbed Monique’s handbag, and fled when challenged. Ben, then an apprentice chef, described the intruder as a “very big bloke” standing in the room. “It was more than a shock. I was quite fearful for my daughter, and Monique, and at the time myself,” Ben said. His mind raced: “It was doing backflips.” He shouted “hey,” jumped up, and chased Slater through several streets, even calling police en route.
The Violent Struggle
Ben tackled Slater in a citizen’s arrest attempt. A fierce fight ensued, with headbutts, bites, and Slater trying to snap Ben’s thumb. “I was yelling. I did strike him a few times. I didn’t have him in a chokehold,” Ben recounted. He insisted he used only necessary force to hold Slater until police arrived. Upon arrival, officers heard Ben say, “Give me two minutes with him. I’ll kill the dog.”
Police handcuffed Slater, but he was unresponsive. He suffered his first of three cardiac arrests and died the next day. Ben was arrested and charged with murder. “I broke down and said, ‘Look, I didn’t do it,'” he recalled, hugging his parents before custody. The reality hit on the way to prison: “I had lost my freedom, lost my job, lost my house, normality was just blown away that night.”
Imprisonment and Public Backlash
Monique brought their daughter to visit Ben weekly in prison, where she said her first word: “dad.” Public outrage led to bail after six weeks, but Ben went into hiding due to death threats. Monique defended his actions: “No, he was in my daughter’s room. I don’t blame him for any of it and I don’t think it’s your fault that we had to go through it all.”
Trial, Acquittal, and Justice
In the November 2019 murder trial, experts linked Slater’s death to methamphetamine overdose and a pre-existing heart condition from chronic drug use. The jury acquitted Ben, who had developed PTSD and acted lawfully. Justice Fagan ruled no murder charge or trial should have occurred. “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 stated, noting blows played no role in the death.
The jury remained unaware of Slater’s 2007 rape conviction during deliberations.
Lasting Impact and Settlement
Ben filed a civil claim against the State of New South Wales for wrongful prosecution, reaching a confidential settlement. A decade later, he battles ongoing struggles, including a deteriorated relationship with Monique. He views the events as tragic for all involved. Reflecting on regrets, Ben said, “No — I’ve done what any father would have done.” His biggest lesson: “People should always defend their home, no matter what.”
