Tyrone Thompson spared life imprisonment for murder of Mackenzie Anderson | Newcastle Herald - video Dailymotion

Newcastle Herald

Mackenzie Anderson's friends and family speak out after the sentencing.

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00:00Firstly, I'd like to express my deepest thanks to Detective Eads, who began our case with

00:11dedication and care, and Detective Keegan, who worked tirelessly over the last three

00:15years to seek justice for my daughter.

00:18A special thanks goes to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, particularly KC, Brendan

00:23Queenan and his team, for their hard work throughout this long and painful journey.

00:27I would like to especially acknowledge Ms Herring and Caitlin, whose outstanding commitment

00:32went beyond this sentencing trial and linked to the three gruelling years of preparation

00:36leading up to it.

00:37By no means do I think today's sentence is a reflection on the hard work of the DPP and

00:42the Police, who worked tirelessly to support us and to get a better sentence.

00:47The court staff and volunteers, thank you for your professionalism and compassion during

00:52this horrific week, and to our friends and family who have stood by us and supported us.

00:56Our presence has meant more than words can express.

00:59While no verdict and no sentence can bring Mackenzie back, we are outraged by today's outcome.

01:05Whilst this may be thought as a good outcome by the courts, we are disgusted that this sentence

01:09is what they think is the value of my daughter's life was worth.

01:13Today is an example of some serious investigation and legislation needed into the justice system,

01:18where justice is not being served.

01:21This Weinstein sentence was an insult to women globally, and I call for an urgent review and

01:26appeal of this sentence.

01:28No punishment ever feels like justice.

01:30In Australia, sentence is often ridiculous.

01:33We far too frequently deliver light sentences and make excuses for men who murder women.

01:38We're in the midst of an epidemic of gender-based violence, where women are being killed at an

01:42alarming rate, and the only acceptable number is zero.

01:48Most domestic violence offenses don't happen suddenly, they happen in slow motion.

01:52They are often predictable and preventable.

01:54If only there were an early and decisive actions from our courts.

01:58Tyrone was on parole.

02:00He had violently assaulted my daughter for two years.

02:03He should not have been out of jail.

02:05I place a great deal of blame for my daughter's death on our justice system and on the judges

02:09who continually hand down lenient sentences.

02:13Tyrone committed offenses while on parole, and once again, the police worked tirelessly

02:17to arrest him.

02:18And once again, a judge chose not to punish him and let him walk free.

02:23I have to ask, if this judge had not let him walk free after breaching parole, would Mackenzie

02:30still be here today?

02:32Throughout this week, my daughter was often referred to as deceased, a term that strips her

02:36of her identity of personhood.

02:38I want people to remember that she was not just a statistic, her name was Mackenzie.

02:43She was a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend.

02:46And most of all, she was a human being.

02:49And her life mattered.

02:51The grief and the loss we carry will not ease with time, it will remain with us for the

02:55rest of our lives.

02:56Mackenzie received the life sentence today.

02:59Myself, my family, her friends have been given life sentences of grief and pain.

03:04We need far deeper, more urgent national conversations about how we punish violent offenders because

03:09what we're doing right now is not good enough.

03:13But today, I also want to steer the focus towards prevention.

03:16Justice cannot just be about what happens after a tragedy.

03:19We must act before lives are lost.

03:21Australia urgently needs more funding, more resources and more commitment to mental health

03:25support, early intervention and education.

03:28If we want to change the future, we must invest in preventing these crimes, not just responding

03:33to them after it's too late.

03:35This is not the end of my journey with domestic violence.

03:38My advocacy will continue.

03:39I will keep fighting for all women, in honourary of my daughter.

03:43Her voice was taken from her, but mine will not be silenced.

03:46I will continue to speak, to push for change and stand up for every woman who's ever felt unsafe,

03:51unheard, unseen.

03:52Mackenzie's legacy will be one of action, of justice and of hope and I call for this sentence

04:00to be appealed.

Tyrone Thompson spared life imprisonment for murder of Mackenzie Anderson | Newcastle Herald

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