Aquinia ‘Queenie’ van de Zandt: A Woman’s Journey from Victim to Survivor, Inspiring Others to Speak Out Against Abuse

A woman who was sexually assaulted by her uncle when she was 15 years old has chosen to waive her legal right to anonymity in an effort to encourage others who have experienced abuse to come forward. Antonius van de Zandt, now 72 years old, was sentenced to three years in prison by the ACT Supreme Court for sexually assaulting his niece while she slept in his bed in 1986.

Van de Zandt admitted to the assault but claimed he was asleep at the time. However, family members testified that he had openly acknowledged the offending, attributing it to his own “animalistic” sexual desire and a belief that his niece “wanted it.” The court also heard that the victim and her uncle had attended a personal development conference in an attempt to move past the incident.

Despite van de Zandt’s age and ill health, he will serve six months of his three-year prison sentence behind bars. The remainder of his sentence will be served as a good behavior bond. His niece, Aquinia ‘Queenie’ van de Zandt, who chose to be identified as her uncle’s victim, expressed relief after the sentencing, stating that there are no winners in such a situation but that it is appropriate for him to go to jail.

Inspired by the MeToo movement and women like Grace Tame, who have spoken out about their own experiences of abuse, Ms. van de Zandt hopes that by coming forward and being named, she can encourage others to do the same. She believes that the time for silence is over and that speaking out and reporting sexual violence empowers survivors. She urges all victims to speak up and shift the shame onto the perpetrators.

In her victim impact statement, Ms. van de Zandt spoke of the trust she had in her uncle and his wife at the time of the assault, describing them as parental figures. She expressed the lasting impact the abuse had on her, stating that something within her was broken and has never fully healed.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum acknowledged the seriousness of the offense and the breach of trust it entailed. While she recognized the delay in bringing the matter to court, she did not believe it should shorten van de Zandt’s sentence. However, due to his age, physical health, and mental health, the judge decided to suspend the sentence after six months, followed by a good behavior bond until November 30, 2026.