He murdered her daughter, now he will be kicked out of CQ

Convicted murderer removed from CQ community after petition and pleas from family.

TAKEN TOO SOON: Rockhampton woman Lara Ashcroft who was murdered. Picture: Contributed

LARA Ashcroft's mum has never stopped fighting for her daughter - and it has paid off.

The Rockhampton woman, who the Bulletin have chosen not to name, lost her daughter Lara at the hands of ex partner Stephen Wayne Robson on April 7, 2001 when he murdered the much-loved 23-year-old on Yeppoon-Rockhampton Rd.

MURDERER:Stephen Robson. Picture: Contributed

Robson was sentenced to life in prison but was released on parole in April to live in Emerald after only serving 15 years.

Since Robson's release Lara's mum has campaigned and battled for his removal from the Central Queensland community - and she's won.

From online petitions to community campaigns and letters to the Attorney General and Minister for Correctional Services Bill Byrne, Lara's mum has never stopped fighting.

So when she received a call from the Queensland Parole Board on Friday night to say her demands had been met, she was over the moon.

"I cried, it was tears of joy that I'd conquered what I'd set out to do," Lara's mum said.

"I just couldn't believe it. I just kept thinking, 'Is this really true? I even thought 'Is someone playing a joke on me.'

"It is true, I got my letter yesterday and they rang me to tell me they were sending off a letter to me as he had moved from Emerald and had gone north.

"To know that I'd actually won for the people of Emerald, I'd love to thank firstly the people who signed my petition - 581 people signed.

"Then to all my friends that supported me and told me to 'keep going, don't give up, what's in your heart, you're the mum and you only know what it's like'.

"Then to everyone in Emerald who has expressed their feelings, it showed me a lot of what they think."

Lara's mum also wished to thank Mr Byrne for his support.

"Bill Byrne called me and I was fired up. I let him have it. It was two weeks after from when I spoke with Bill that Robson was moved.

"I've finally had my say. I said to Mr Byrne, 'I have been quiet for the last 15 years and I'm not going to be quiet any more. I'm not backing down now. This is it, I'm fighting and I'm going to fight to the end.'

"Thanks to Mr Byrne for listening to me in a moment of despair. He obviously took it through to the parole board and talked about change.

"It's just all come at a very good time and it's a win."

Lara's mum said while she would have preferred Robson was sent back to prison to complete his life sentence, it was relieving to know she no longer had to worry about running in to him.

"I just hope I can get back to where I was knowing that he's not so close. There was always the thought I might run into him. It meant we had to be looking over our shoulders any time we went anywhere and thinking is it him, do we know him," she said.

"For a long time, it was hard to go to work, it was like 'I don't want to be here today' but I just had to brave up and face it.

"I'm looking forward to doing everything. I love my job, I want to get out and do what I can.

"I thank the parole board for considering my feelings and respecting my daughter and the way she died. Obviously Robson did not respect her at all."

Originally published as He murdered her daughter, now he will be kicked out of CQ