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Simon Gittany sentencing hearing told of devastating impact on victim's family Simon Gittany sentencing hearing told of devastating impact on victim's family
(7 months later)
The The mother of a young woman thrown to her death from a Sydney highrise balcony says the "senseless act of violence" has left a hole in her life that can never be filled.
mother of a young woman thrown to her death from a Sydney highrise All Simon Gittany had to do was step aside and let her daughter Lisa Cecilia Harnum go, Joan Harnum said in a victim impact statement read at the convicted murderer's sentence hearing on Wednesday.
balcony says the "senseless act of violence" has left a hole in her life
that can never be filled.
All
Simon Gittany had to do was step aside and let her daughter Lisa
Cecilia Harnum go, Joan Harnum said in a victim impact statement read at
the convicted murderer's sentence hearing on Wednesday.
But instead he committed an act which robbed her family of a beautiful and vivacious sister and daughter.But instead he committed an act which robbed her family of a beautiful and vivacious sister and daughter.
Joan Harnum told of how her daughter's murder in July 2011 had left a hole in her life that could never be filled.Joan Harnum told of how her daughter's murder in July 2011 had left a hole in her life that could never be filled.
"Parental grief (at losing their child) is overwhelming."Parental grief (at losing their child) is overwhelming.
"There "There is nothing that can prepare a parent for its enormity or devastation," Harnum wrote in the statement, read on her behalf by her daughter's counsellor Michelle Richmond.
is nothing that can prepare a parent for its enormity or devastation," Describing her daughter as loving and caring, she said there was now an empty chair at family gatherings and a beautiful smile missing from photographs.
Harnum wrote in the statement, read on her behalf by her daughter's Meanwhile she said her son Jason Harnum missed his "young, beautiful, vivacious sister" who was "taken too early in such a violent way".
counsellor Michelle Richmond. Gittany is facing a sentencing hearing after being found guilty last year of murdering Ms Harnum, who was his fiance on 30 July 2011.
Describing The 40-year-old, who pleaded not guilty, was found to have thrown the 30-year-old off their 15th floor balcony in a Sydney in a fit of "apoplectic" rage after she made plans to leave him and return to Canada.
her daughter as loving and caring, she said there was now an empty During Gittany’s trial the court heard he had been controlling, installing CCTV cameras inside their apartment and using a computer program to monitor her text messages and emails.
chair at family gatherings and a beautiful smile missing from In her statement, Joan Harnum, who could not make it to Wednesday's hearing due to family reasons, said it was a "thoughtless and senseless act of violence".
photographs.
Meanwhile
she said her son Jason Harnum missed his "young, beautiful, vivacious
sister" who was "taken too early in such a violent way".
Gittany
is facing a sentencing hearing after being found guilty last year of
murdering Ms Harnum, who was his fiance on 30 July 2011.
The
40-year-old, who pleaded not guilty, was found to have thrown the
30-year-old off their 15th floor balcony in a Sydney in a fit of
"apoplectic" rage after she made plans to leave him and return to
Canada.
During
Gittany’s trial the court heard he had been controlling, installing
CCTV cameras inside their apartment and using a computer program to
monitor her text messages and emails.
In
her statement, Joan Harnum, who could not make it to Wednesday's
hearing due to family reasons, said it was a "thoughtless and senseless
act of violence".
"All Simon Gittany had to do that day was step aside and let her go back to her family.""All Simon Gittany had to do that day was step aside and let her go back to her family."
Her Her comments come after Gittany's current girlfriend, Rachelle Louise and other supporters caused a stir outside Darlinghurst court by carrying placards advocating his innocence.
comments come after Gittany's current girlfriend, Rachelle Louise and Without uttering a word, Ms Louise pointed to signs, which included the question: "How do you render Some1 (sic) unconscious in less than 65 sec without any sign of trauma to the body".
other supporters caused a stir outside Darlinghurst court by carrying
placards advocating his innocence.
Without
uttering a word, Ms Louise pointed to signs, which included the
question: "How do you render Some1 (sic) unconscious in less than 65 sec
without any sign of trauma to the body".
The hearing continues before Justice Lucy McCallum.The hearing continues before Justice Lucy McCallum.