Heart-broken relatives of slain mother-of-four Fiona Warzywoda say the Victorian justice system has once again failed victims of family violence.
Ms Warzywoda, 33, of Melton West, was allegedly stabbed to death by her abusive de-facto husband in the middle of a busy Sunshine shopping strip in broad daylight last Wednesday.
She had been at Sunshine Magistrates Court that morning over a family violence order in place against her de-facto of 18 years, Craig McDermott, before he allegedly stabbed her with a fishing knife.
Ms Warzywoda’s step-mother, Simone Warzywoda, said on Tuesday that the death had left many people shaken, and the justice system had failed their family.
“This tragedy has touched many of us in one way or another,” she said.
“It’s been time and again with domestic violence … the justice system continues to fail women and children.”
Craig McDermott, 38, handed himself in to police on Thursday morning after spending a day on the run.
Mr McDermott, of Sunshine North, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court later that night, charged with the murder and was remanded until August 7.
Police said Ms Warzywoda had left her solicitor’s office just minutes before she was stabbed multiple times in front of lunchtime shoppers on the corner of Hampshire and Devonshire Roads, Sunshine.
On Tuesday night, dozens of bouquets and heart-shaped cards piled on the public bench beside on the footpath where Ms Warzywoda became the latest tragic victim of family violence.
More than 600 people gathered at the corner of Hampshire and Devonshire roads for a vigil in memory of Ms Warzywoda and a silent protest against family violence.
Friends and family stifled sobs into each other’s arms as the sun vanished behind the shopfronts and candles began flickering among the crowd.
Several people were holding signs, saying, “Domestic violence, not in my name”, and asking “How many more?”
Vigil organiser and Sunshine resident Sophie Dutertre said she felt compelled to take a stand, and was overwhelmed at the massive turnout.
“I was angry that a man had treated a woman like she was his property,” she said.
“Women have the right to be safe on the street and safe in their homes.”
Melissa, 39, who did not want her surname used, said she had been a victim of family violence herself and was devastated when she heard of Ms Warzywoda’s tragic death.
The Braybrook resident fought back tears as she recalled fleeing her family home to escape her abusive ex-partner.
“He used to hit me and I let it go and let it go, but then he started hitting my daughter, who was one-and-a-half years old – his own flesh and blood,” she said.
“It’s still a knife in my heart.”
Rose Williams, a friend of Ms Warzywoda, remembered her as a beautiful and kind woman, who loved her children deeply.
“She was a wonderful lady, who cared so much about her family and friends,” she said.
“This is a young life lost for nothing and four children who are left without their mum.”
Ms Wililiams said the enforcement of laws against men who breach intervention orders were not strong enough, and too many women were dying at the hands of abusive partners.
“Intervention orders are not working – they’re just pieces of paper,” she said.
“The government needs to step up and the laws need to be tougher – these men need to go to prison for what they do, for breaching intervention orders.
“Fiona is not the only one who’s copped it like this. Police aren’t doing anything about it until something happens.”
Brimbank police inspector Chris Gilbert said the justice system was “never going to be a perfect beast” and stressed that more needed to be done in schools to educate teenagers and stop the cycle of family violence.
“It’s not just in Sunshine, it’s not just in the western suburbs … there are no boundaries to family violence,” he said.
“We need to back further to change the psyche of these men. There’s got to be a way we can drive this home more vigorously,”
Inspector Gilbert said many people continued to turn a blind eye if they suspected a friend, relative or colleague were abusing their partners.
“Stand up, men,” he said.
“It’s quite often the questions we don’t ask that are the ones that are most needed.”
Warzywoda family statement in full:
On behalf of the family, I express my deepest gratitude for the support, kind words, donations, flowers and prayers.
The family is asking for privacy at this very emotional time.
We understand this has affected the community as a whole and this tragedy has touched many of us in one way or another.
It has been time and again with domestic violence, the justice system continues to fail women and children.
Once again thank you for the respect and wishes.
We are working to set up a fund to receive donations.
