Sarah Ristevski breaks silence on mother Karen’s death, support for dad Borce

She stood by the man who confessed to killing her mother Karen, but now Sarah Ristevski is finally set to reveal what happened when she confronted her father about the shocking crime.

Borce and Sarah Ristevski talk to the media in Avondale Heights soon after the disappearance of Karen Ristevski. Picture: Sarah Matray

Sarah Ristevski has spoken out about her mother’s death for the first time, revealing she asked her killer father at least once if he was responsible.

“She’s on my mind all the time. I can’t get it out of my head,” the 24-year-old says in a trailer for an upcoming TV interview.

Karen Ristevski, 47, vanished from the family’s Avondale Heights home in Melbourne’s northwest on June 29, 2016. Her decomposed body was then discovered in Mount Macedon bushland eight months later.

Borce Ristevski, her husband of 27 years, initially denied any involvement and carried her casket at her funeral.

But the 55-year-old then confessed to her manslaughter in March last year, just as he was due to go on trial.

Borce and Sarah at Avondale Heights police station. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ristevski was jailed for nine years over the killing. His sentence was then increased to 13 years with a non-parole period of 10 years in December, after he refused to reveal why or how he killed his wife.

But Sarah has continued to stand by him.

She wrote a glowing character reference for him following his conviction, describing him as a “loving”, “caring” and “ protective” father, who “would always be helping mum out”.

“Surely you asked your dad, did you do this? You asked him that? Did you kill my mum?” 60 Minutes’ Liz Hayes asks Sarah in the interview.

“Even after he was charged, do you ask him: Dad did you do this?” she adds. “I think people need to know.”

Sarah responds: “I asked him if he had anything to do with it.”

In a telephone conversation recorded by police on a listening device in 2016, Sarah could be heard questioning her father.

She wanted to know why he turned his phone off for two hours as he drove past Diggers Rest in the direction of Mount Macedon on the day her mother went missing.

“You know what I want to know?” she said.

“You’re out of the house for two hours, your telephone is off for two hours. You were driving and you turned your telephone off. They pinged you on the Calder (Freeway). So you were driving?”

SES searching for Karen Ristevski. Picture: Eugene Hyland

But Ristevski deflected the question, telling Sarah he was being stitched up by cops who had no other credible leads.

“That’s what (police) are trying to plant out there, Sarah,” he said.

“That doesn’t make sense,” she replied.

“Nothing makes sense,” he said.

READ MORE:

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HOW THE KAREN RISTEVSKI MURDER CASE INTRIGUED US ALL

The Karen Ristevski case gripped Australia from the moment the 47-year-old mother vanished without a trace.

It was June 29, 2016 when her husband of 20 years, Borce Ristevski, and their daughter, Sarah, faced the media to appeal for public help to find the Melbourne mum.

As the weeks turned into months, the high-profile mystery was frequently splashed across front pages, and led evening TV news bulletins.

Where Karen Ristevski’s body was found. Picture: Nicole Garmston

But there was no solution to the mystery: No body, no answers.

At the public appeal for help, with daughter Sarah by his side, Mr Ristevski spoke softly as he said his wife had left home to cool off in the past, but never for more than a couple of hours.

Sarah Ristevski leaves St Johns Uniting church, Essendon, after her mother’s funeral. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Borce Ristevski carries his wife’s coffin. Picture: The Australian

Mr Ristevski had told police that his wife had walked out of their home in Oakley Drive, Avondale Heights about 10am.

When he last saw his wife she had left on foot, was wearing a black blazer, jeans and was carrying a gold Coach handbag.

He explained that they had been discussing the family’s Bella Bleu fashion boutique, which was located at a shopping complex in Taylors Lakes.

This is how the story that gripped the country unfolded.

Originally published as Sarah Ristevski breaks silence on mother Karen’s death, support for dad Borce