Kym Allen Parsons relative says Bicycle Bandit VAD bid ‘unethical’
A family member says even his closest loved ones were oblivious to the dedicated church-goer’s true nature until the truth finally came to light.
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A relative of the bicycle bandit has revealed the devastation their family has gone through after Kym Allen Parsons was linked to the bank robberies – and says the robber should not be granted access to the voluntary assisted dying kit.
The family member – who has asked not to be named – said Parsons’ closest relatives were in the dark about his infamous armed bank robberies spree carried out in the 2000s.
“Our whole family, I can honestly say, we had no idea,” he said.
“Nobody. Not even his wife and all his kids knew the truth.
“Until that day when police showed up in our life with the accusation, we were in the dark about him being the bicycle bandit.”
The source said the revelation turned their family on their heads.
“After the police showed up, (Parsons’) wife’s life completely turned upside down,” he said.
“(Parsons’ wife) lost a very big part of her life. She lost 50 years of marriage to a man it turned out (she) didn’t know at all although she did love him.
“Now she will stick by him, she will stick to her vows and stay with him up until the end.”
Although Parsons’ relative said their family felt ready to turn over this page in their lives and move on, they believe Parsons should spend his time in prison until his terminal cancer takes his life.
“I think if he uses the VAD it won’t be fair to those people that he has affected,” he said.
“I can’t imagine having a gun pointed at you in a bank while someone is robbing you is something his victims will forget in their life.
“And I think (Parsons) is using the VAD as leverage … he seems to be almost like a narcissistic God that plays games with people and he enjoys that. He is a pig of a man.”
However, the anonymous relative concedes he didn’t see Parsons, except “big, special occasions” because Parsons’ was typically “heavily involved with his church and he would always put his church first, before family”.
The relative said he hopes SA Health will change their VAD eligibility criteria.
“I personally think it’s unethical. I just would hope they change the law for those who are still awaiting trial,” he said.
SA Health has previously refused to comment on individual applications made for a VAD permit “to protect patient confidentiality”.
This comes after Parsons, 73, in a tearful in-court apology, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery, and firearms charges.
He also pledged to repay all $358,976.90 stolen during his crime spree, which he said was motivated by his “illogical and irrational” thinking at the time.
Parsons will be sentenced on Monday and has asked to use his VAD kit at the Flinders Medical Centre immediately following the verdict.
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