It's been a while since I've posted.
We attended court today and the judge read out the verdict. 22 years with a non-parole period of 17 years. Not what we had been hoping for. I would have liked it to be somewhere between 20 to 25 years before he could be released, but 17 years is better than having a murderer running around the streets. Now he has quite a bit of time on his hands to contemplate his actions and the effect on the community.
According to what I read in the media, his parents are absolutely convinced that he is innocent and apparently have evidence to prove his innocence. We've had an informal chat with the police and they have not told us about this evidence his parents have, so who knows.
From what I understand of the evidence that was presented in court it was very convincing and pointed directly at the young man accused of Tania's murder. The jury must have thought the same thing as they came back very quickly with a guilty verdict, if I remember correctly it was around an hour.
A lot of Mandy's family were there to provide support as well as Karen, the lady who found Tania being attacked outside her hotel room. Karen has been back every day that we have been to court and has been there to support us, thank you Karen.
While I'm thanking people, I also need to thank those who brought us meals, called around just to chat and see how we were going, prayed for us, text us continually with messages of support and the other things that I can't think of. Plus the rest of the local community who just care.
One last thing, thank you to the media for reporting the trial with reasonable accuracy, since some of the earlier reports have been "less than accurate".
Friday, November 14, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Victim Impact Statement - Chris Burgess father of Tania Burgess
For anyone who is interested, here is my victim impact statement as read in court.
I am Tania's father; I have had the privilege of knowing her for the 15 years of her short life. I have seen many events in her life and will keep all of these memories in my heart for the rest of my life; like when I watched her come into this world on 19th April 1990.
I also recall the uncoordinated 4 year old that did a funny little dance across the dance floor, which had the whole room in stitches of laughter, while the older students were having their ballet exams. There was also the day that I dropped her off at preschool and I watched her wave goodbye to me, with a tear in her eye. My heart broke as I left her there and drove away, but I left knowing that when I see her again she would tell me of all the exciting news of the day and I could relive it through her eyes.
I also recall the other times at school; the trying times as she went through many issues and struggles with the transition to high school. Then as I watched, she became the elegant young lady who was the one her friends looked to for strength in their own problem times.
There are many other things I have seen and hold dear, and if I were to write all that I can recall, it would fill much more than the number of pages allocated for my family and I to try and express our loss.
I also managed to spend the last few moments of her life with her. Although, I'm not sure that she even knew that I was there for her. This was the time when my heart broke and I knew that I could not be there with her. One of the hardest things I have had to do is to help carry her coffin to her grave and see it lowered into the ground. As I drove home the fact that Tania was never to return home again and be a part of our family was whole heart wrenching. I know other families have losses. Some even have the unthinkable tragedy of losing a child. But to loose a child to murder, shakes ones faith in humanity.
In the future - I was looking forward to watching her grow into a beautiful, caring woman and guiding her as she met the challenges of work, life and love. There are so many events that we will now never get to see, like meeting the young man that she would have chosen to be her partner. Giving her away at her wedding, the grandchildren that will never be born and I will never get to know. Plus a multitude of other events that would have been important in her life and ours. All lost forever.
The 19th July 2005 was the beginning of the most difficult time that I have ever had to endure, when a thoughtless and selfish act took Tania from us forever and put an end to the bright future that would have been Tania's.
The impact of this one event has not only impacted our families and friends, but has been felt by the whole Central Coast. We have even been contacted by people from all over Australia, some of whom we have never met, who have expressed compassion and sorrow at our loss.
A few short years ago, I could not have even considered not having Tania in my life. But it is now a stark reality that has been shoved in my face over and over again as I have gone through the process of the prosecution bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The one thing that I now find the most difficult to deal with is that even though we have gone through all this pain we still have absolutely no idea of why the perpetrator felt the need to take Tania's life. This remains unexplained to me and will always remain part of my torment.
The loss of Tania has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. The dream home that we planned and built for our family to grow up in, we can now no longer live in. Our business has suffered greatly and continues to suffer from the lack of focus that I have had and continue to lack. Our personal finances are in a mess. My relationship with my wife Mandy has been challenged more by this than anything else in the last 24 years. My son just will not speak about what has happened.
Keeping this in mind and remembering that justice must be done, I would like to request that you consider punishing the perpetrator to the fullest extent allowable by the law.
One of the things that I have learned through this experience is that nothing brings satisfaction. Not a guilt verdict, nor anything else. The only thing that would bring satisfaction is to have Tania restored to us, but I know that this is not possible.
Another thing I have learned is that words can not even come close to expressing the loss that we feel or ongoing impact of this event on our lives.
I am Tania's father; I have had the privilege of knowing her for the 15 years of her short life. I have seen many events in her life and will keep all of these memories in my heart for the rest of my life; like when I watched her come into this world on 19th April 1990.
I also recall the uncoordinated 4 year old that did a funny little dance across the dance floor, which had the whole room in stitches of laughter, while the older students were having their ballet exams. There was also the day that I dropped her off at preschool and I watched her wave goodbye to me, with a tear in her eye. My heart broke as I left her there and drove away, but I left knowing that when I see her again she would tell me of all the exciting news of the day and I could relive it through her eyes.
I also recall the other times at school; the trying times as she went through many issues and struggles with the transition to high school. Then as I watched, she became the elegant young lady who was the one her friends looked to for strength in their own problem times.
There are many other things I have seen and hold dear, and if I were to write all that I can recall, it would fill much more than the number of pages allocated for my family and I to try and express our loss.
I also managed to spend the last few moments of her life with her. Although, I'm not sure that she even knew that I was there for her. This was the time when my heart broke and I knew that I could not be there with her. One of the hardest things I have had to do is to help carry her coffin to her grave and see it lowered into the ground. As I drove home the fact that Tania was never to return home again and be a part of our family was whole heart wrenching. I know other families have losses. Some even have the unthinkable tragedy of losing a child. But to loose a child to murder, shakes ones faith in humanity.
In the future - I was looking forward to watching her grow into a beautiful, caring woman and guiding her as she met the challenges of work, life and love. There are so many events that we will now never get to see, like meeting the young man that she would have chosen to be her partner. Giving her away at her wedding, the grandchildren that will never be born and I will never get to know. Plus a multitude of other events that would have been important in her life and ours. All lost forever.
The 19th July 2005 was the beginning of the most difficult time that I have ever had to endure, when a thoughtless and selfish act took Tania from us forever and put an end to the bright future that would have been Tania's.
The impact of this one event has not only impacted our families and friends, but has been felt by the whole Central Coast. We have even been contacted by people from all over Australia, some of whom we have never met, who have expressed compassion and sorrow at our loss.
A few short years ago, I could not have even considered not having Tania in my life. But it is now a stark reality that has been shoved in my face over and over again as I have gone through the process of the prosecution bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The one thing that I now find the most difficult to deal with is that even though we have gone through all this pain we still have absolutely no idea of why the perpetrator felt the need to take Tania's life. This remains unexplained to me and will always remain part of my torment.
The loss of Tania has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. The dream home that we planned and built for our family to grow up in, we can now no longer live in. Our business has suffered greatly and continues to suffer from the lack of focus that I have had and continue to lack. Our personal finances are in a mess. My relationship with my wife Mandy has been challenged more by this than anything else in the last 24 years. My son just will not speak about what has happened.
Keeping this in mind and remembering that justice must be done, I would like to request that you consider punishing the perpetrator to the fullest extent allowable by the law.
One of the things that I have learned through this experience is that nothing brings satisfaction. Not a guilt verdict, nor anything else. The only thing that would bring satisfaction is to have Tania restored to us, but I know that this is not possible.
Another thing I have learned is that words can not even come close to expressing the loss that we feel or ongoing impact of this event on our lives.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Son walks after stabbing mum to death
What a perverse world we live in.
I just read an article on the Daily Telegraph web site about a 23 year old man who stabbed his mother to death and has been released after just 22 months in gaol (for those who are interested, this is the Aussie way of spelling jail).
Apparently he stabbed her 57 times! From what I understand the average stabbing consists of 2 to 3 injuries.
So do you think that 57 could be a just bit excessive?
I think that he probably needs serious psychological treatment and to be removed from the community to stop him from doing it to anybody else.
I just read an article on the Daily Telegraph web site about a 23 year old man who stabbed his mother to death and has been released after just 22 months in gaol (for those who are interested, this is the Aussie way of spelling jail).
Apparently he stabbed her 57 times! From what I understand the average stabbing consists of 2 to 3 injuries.
So do you think that 57 could be a just bit excessive?
I think that he probably needs serious psychological treatment and to be removed from the community to stop him from doing it to anybody else.
Submissions for sentencing
On Friday we attended the submissions for sentencing.
Both Mandy and I chose to have our victim impact statements included in the submissions. You can find one of the articles about it here.
The submissions have been held over until 12 September 2008, because a witness for the defense was unable to attend.
So, we wait again. At least by taking the time to fully investigate this, the Judge is ensuring that an appeal will not likely be granted.
Both Mandy and I chose to have our victim impact statements included in the submissions. You can find one of the articles about it here.
The submissions have been held over until 12 September 2008, because a witness for the defense was unable to attend.
So, we wait again. At least by taking the time to fully investigate this, the Judge is ensuring that an appeal will not likely be granted.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
WYD08
Here we are and World Youth day is almost upon us.
The 3rd anniversary of Tania's death is on Saturday. We'll probably head out to her grave for a visit and to clean the plaque. We don't get out there much, since it's not really Tania out there but just the body that she used to be in.
Besides that we have enough trouble trying to find time to fit things in these days. It's not that we're really busy, but that we have trouble managing our time.
Also sentencing is on in a couple of weeks and I'm not looking forward to reading out my Victim impact statement. Writing it was tough enough, reading it will be even tougher.
The 3rd anniversary of Tania's death is on Saturday. We'll probably head out to her grave for a visit and to clean the plaque. We don't get out there much, since it's not really Tania out there but just the body that she used to be in.
Besides that we have enough trouble trying to find time to fit things in these days. It's not that we're really busy, but that we have trouble managing our time.
Also sentencing is on in a couple of weeks and I'm not looking forward to reading out my Victim impact statement. Writing it was tough enough, reading it will be even tougher.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Submissions for Sentencing
We've just found out that the Defence Council has asked to have the submissions for sentencing postponed.
So, yet another postponement. We've come to expect this from the legal system, it appears that there can be any number of reasons to postpone things. All of these reasons are legitimate and allowed to ensure that the trial is completed with the minimum possibility of a retrial, but that doesn't stop it from being really frustrating.
It is now scheduled for the 1st of August
So, yet another postponement. We've come to expect this from the legal system, it appears that there can be any number of reasons to postpone things. All of these reasons are legitimate and allowed to ensure that the trial is completed with the minimum possibility of a retrial, but that doesn't stop it from being really frustrating.
It is now scheduled for the 1st of August
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The next step
The submissions for sentencing is scheduled for 6th June.
I have just completed my victim impact statement ready for that date. Our immediate family has 20 pages to use to express the impact that this event has had on our lives. I managed to get to about 1 1/2 pages.
How do you use just words on paper to express the impact that this has had on your life? The loss of a loved one is almost impossible to express just using words.
I feel that only someone who has walked down the same road (or maybe a similar one) as me can really understand what the loss means.
I must admit that I never really put any thought into what those who lose loved ones in a violent way actually go through or what it means to them. I now know why it takes people years to get life back to a point where you can function properly after ths kind of event.
Anyway then next thing that I have to get past is reading the statement in the court, that I think will be really tough.
I have just completed my victim impact statement ready for that date. Our immediate family has 20 pages to use to express the impact that this event has had on our lives. I managed to get to about 1 1/2 pages.
How do you use just words on paper to express the impact that this has had on your life? The loss of a loved one is almost impossible to express just using words.
I feel that only someone who has walked down the same road (or maybe a similar one) as me can really understand what the loss means.
I must admit that I never really put any thought into what those who lose loved ones in a violent way actually go through or what it means to them. I now know why it takes people years to get life back to a point where you can function properly after ths kind of event.
Anyway then next thing that I have to get past is reading the statement in the court, that I think will be really tough.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tania's Birthday
Here we are three weeks on from the trial and Tania's 18th Birthday has come and gone. This is the third one we have had to celebrate without her.
From year 7 she was always asking to have her belly button pierced - until I came upon the idea of offering her something she wanted in exchange. At some stage she decided that she wanted a car with a soft top, so she could drive around with the top down (when she was old enough, of course). So I offered to buy her a car (with a soft top) for her 17th birthday, if she would not ask about the piercing again.
We hardly ever heard anything about the belly button piercing again.
Shortly before she died she said to me "What's to stop me getting my belly button pierced after I get the car?" Tania had finally realised that the only reason she was offered the car was because I wanted her to wait until she was 17. I had never actually meant to stop her, just put her off until she had grown up a little and could pay for it herself.
So Tania's 17th birthday was one that I really missed her, because I was looking forward to giving her the car and teaching her to drive. One of the many things that I'll miss out on sharing with her.
Tonight we went out to Terrigal pub with three of her friends, unfortunately we couldn't get a hold of some and others are away during the school holidays. We had a cake, a good chat and sang happy birthday to Tania.
It was good to catch up with them again.
From year 7 she was always asking to have her belly button pierced - until I came upon the idea of offering her something she wanted in exchange. At some stage she decided that she wanted a car with a soft top, so she could drive around with the top down (when she was old enough, of course). So I offered to buy her a car (with a soft top) for her 17th birthday, if she would not ask about the piercing again.
We hardly ever heard anything about the belly button piercing again.
Shortly before she died she said to me "What's to stop me getting my belly button pierced after I get the car?" Tania had finally realised that the only reason she was offered the car was because I wanted her to wait until she was 17. I had never actually meant to stop her, just put her off until she had grown up a little and could pay for it herself.
So Tania's 17th birthday was one that I really missed her, because I was looking forward to giving her the car and teaching her to drive. One of the many things that I'll miss out on sharing with her.
Tonight we went out to Terrigal pub with three of her friends, unfortunately we couldn't get a hold of some and others are away during the school holidays. We had a cake, a good chat and sang happy birthday to Tania.
It was good to catch up with them again.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
First post
Now that the trial of the young man that has been accused of taking her life is over, I feel that we can now begin to speak about what is been happening without affecting anything.
So, I have setup this blog for a couple of reasons:-
- To let those who knew Tania have a place to keep up with what's going on.
- There are some who have known us in the past and have lost contact with us who may want to get in touch with us.
- To hopefully have an impact on the community, so that these sort of things never happen again (Yeah, I know, wishful thinking)
- So that those others who have lost loved ones can know that there is a place they can have a chat about those they miss.
- Tania was born on 18th April 1990 and died on 19th July 2005.
- According to the autopsy she was stabbed 48 times. From what I understand most of the injuries that she suffered were survivable, except for the one that penetrated her heart.
- Because of that injury, she passed away before the ambulance arrived some 15 minutes after the attack. The ambulance officers did everything that they could to revive her.
- Before she died, she managed to identify her attacker to those who first came to her assistance.
- I think myself lucky that I was at home that afternoon and managed to get to her side before she died. Although she was not conscious when I got there.
- She was fun loving and very cheeky. There were an number of times when I caught her with her jeans slipping down - just enough to show her "coin slot" and when we told her to pull her pants up, she pulled them down that little bit more. Then wagged her tail at me, before pulling her pants up.
- She loved her friends and family. If anyone she knew was down, she would come alongside them and do everything that she could to cheer them up.
- Tania loved netball and played every saturday morning.
- To the best of my knowledge, she was loved by all that she knew.
- She gave her heart to the creator of this world before she died and because of that at least I know that I will be able to see her again when I get to heaven.
There were over 500 people who attended the funeral of this vivacious teenager. From what I've seen at her funeral and over the last almost 3 years, her life and death have had a gigantic impact on the local community.
We still have no idea why she was attacked - and maybe never will.
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