Yes it is a very sad thing to see, thank goodness there are people like you Lynnie who care enough to volunteer to help. I have seen many women walk through the door of my Martial Arts studio when I taught, that had black eyes, twisted fingers, it was terrible, just turned my stomach. My book, No Going Back, though fiction touches on women finding their strength to get out, it isn't easy.
I think what Brenda did was very brave at least the man found out a lesson that day. If she hadn't of done what she did and everyone pitched in to help that poor woman, then she would have been brought to beleive that if everyone witnessing the abuse did nothing then it really was her fault, only causing her to be weaker and the abuser more confident. We can only do so much, the abused has to find their power.