Home Hill hostel stabbing: Tom Jackson’s father feels sympathy for alleged killer’s family

THE family of Home Hill stabbing hero Tom Jackson say they find comfort in the fact he died trying to save someone’s life and could now save even more through organ donation.

Tom Jackson’s father Les and sister Olivia are planning a trip to Home Hill to see the place where Tom died. Picture: Zak Simmonds

HOME Hill stabbing hero Tom Jackson’s sacrifice will save lives through organ donation, his proud family revealed last night.

The 30-year-old died on Tuesday from injuries suffered as he attempted to protect fellow tourist Mia Ayliffe-Chung at a backpacker hostel last week.

“How wonderful that he died trying to save someone’s life and maybe has ended up saving even more and I think that’s a lovely way of thinking of it,” Mr Jackson’s father, Les, said.

“At least something has come out of the s---ness and so long as he has a legacy, that is the main thing.”

Tom Jackson

French backpacker Smail Ayad has been charged with murdering Ms Ayliffe-Chung and will face a second murder count when he reappears in court next month. Mr Jackson said he felt no ill will towards the alleged killer, and some sympathy for Ayad’s family.

“I’ve got absolutely no anger at the moment, maybe that will come later,” he said.

“We can go through the grieving process and come out the other end as a family and eventually be able to move on. But (Ayad’s) family have got to live with this for the rest of their lives and that’s horrendous. I won’t be going out of my way to follow the court case but I won’t avoid it. I just don’t really want to waste another second of my life thinking about this fellow (Ayad).”

Mr Jackson and his daughter Liv, who has also flown out from the UK, are planning a trip to Home Hill in the next week to see the place where Tom died.

They will then have to return without Tom, his body still to be released and prepared for the long flight home.

“The world’s rubbish at the minute but when you’ve got people like my brother who do heroic and selfless acts, it’s a bit of a glimmer of light and hope at the end of this,” Ms Jackson said. “I’m really proud but I’m not shocked what my brother did and I know he would have done it again in a heartbeat.”

Tom was on his first trip to Australia after travelling in South-East Asia. Miss Jackson said she would love to one day come back to Australia after her brother’s glowing reviews.