Family and friends of murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher have appeared in court to voice the impact the horrendous crime has had on their lives.
The husband, father and mother of the ABC employee who was attacked in Melbourne last September, submitted emotional victim impact statements at the plea hearing for the man who admitted guilt over her rape and murder.
Adrian Ernest Bayley appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court for a pre-sentencing hearing today, making a guilty plea over the crime.
Six victim impact statements were made at the hearing, including an emotional reading from Ms Meagher’s father, George McKeon, the Herald Sun reports.
“It is just not okay to rape and murder my child,” Mr McKeon said.
He went on to explain how his 29-year-old daughter had nursed him through a stroke in September 2012, urging him so live so he could be there for her future grandchildren.
“My wife of 30 years will never be a maternal grandmother,” he read.
Ms Meagher’s mother, Edith, was ill and could not attend court, but her statement was read in which she recounted the family’s move to “the wonderful country” of Australia when Jill was seven years old.
Tom Meagher, Jill’s husband, described Jill as his best friend in the world in a statement read out for him.
He recalled how he and Jill met, and mentioned her adventurous spirit and zest for life, the Herald Sun reports.
Bayley, who was on parole in September when he murdered Ms Meagher, had a letter of apology read out in court.
He said he was genuinely sorry and couldn’t imagine the grief he had caused, but he was not seeking forgiveness.
