By ANEEKA SIMONIS
Murdered mum put her name to anti-violence campaign…
Murdered mum Kylie Blackwood signed a petition two weeks before she was killed in her own home to prevent the type of violent crime which took her life.
On Monday 15 July 2013, the Pakenham mother signed a pledge to increase the minimum sentence for people convicted of murder, manslaughter, rape and offences related to children.
The Gazette has verified the signature.
Beaconsfield’s Greg Wright, the man behind the petition, said he was “shocked” when he found Mrs Blackwood’s signature among the names.
“I just couldn’t believe it at first.
“That woman signed this – she thought there should be tougher penalties, and two weeks later she was dead,” he said.
Mr Wright started collecting signatures at the front of Woolworths in Berwick shortly after the horrifying murder of Jill Meagher in an inner suburb of Melbourne in September 2012.
He said violent offenders such as Ms Meagher’s murderer Adrian Ernest Bayley acted without “hesitating” but harsher penalties may make violent criminals think twice.
Bayley was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 35 years after pleading guilty to Ms Meagher’s murder.
“Maybe if we have stiffer penalties that made people think before they took action, we might get somewhere,” Mr Wright said.
“We have to make it safer for people to be safe in their homes, people have to be aware of a set of serious consequences that, if broken, they have to answer to.”
Mr Wright hand delivered the petition to the Attorney-General Robert Clark’s office on Monday 17 November for his consideration before the state election.
He suggested convicted murders and rapists should “lose their civil rights” as well as be subject to tougher sentencing.
“Meals and showers, that’s all they should get. No access to television or the gym.
“If they had a fear of being incarcerated, maybe that would stop them from acting,” he said.
Mrs Blackwood was found murdered in her McCaffery Rise home on Thursday 1 August by her twin daughters as they arrived home from school.
While the crime remains unsolved, Homicide Squad detectives wish to speak to a man described as Caucasian in appearance, about 175cm tall, with a medium build and aged in his late 20s to early 30s.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
