Brett Halcro: Pyrmont stabbing attack victim’s family speak
The ex-partner of a man who was allegedly stabbed and slashed in the face in a horror attack has spoken of the heartbreak of having to tell their daughter she can’t see him. It comes as his family have spoken of his “confronting” and “substantial” injuries as he remains in ICU.
Northern District Times
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The ex-partner of a man who was left with horror injuries following a vicious attack has told of the heartbreak of their four-year-old daughter asking after him every day.
Brett Halcro was set upon by a group of teens in Pyrmont on the night of Friday July 31.
A court heard he was bashed until he was unconscious at which point a Barker College schoolboy allegedly “carved up” his face with a knife, leaving him with injuries so severe he is expected to lose sight in one eye.
His former partner and the mother of his daughter has now spoken of the devastating impact it has had on his family.
Theresa Keecherer told NewsLocal it was “too traumatic” to share the full story of what happened with their daughter.
“She asks after him everyday,” she said. “It breaks my heart.”
“She is four and idolises her dad, often referring to him as her superhero.
“They would often play superhero make believe games together where he would refer to her as his ‘Super BatGirl.’”
She said Brett was an aspiring screen writer and would talk to his daughter every day over Skype.
“Now that he is left with horrific facial injuries, sadly the Skype calls won’t be happening again, or at least for a long time.
“Our daughter doesn’t know the finer details, only that daddy had an accident and he needs to sleep a lot so he can’t talk to her right now.”
She added: “I just hope and pray that Brett makes a full recovery or at least enough to enjoy fatherhood again.”
On a GoFundMe page set up to help with his rehabilitation, a family member told how he had been left “blind, permanently disfigured and facing a lifetime of trauma”.
The family member also provided an update from hospital.
“Brett is making steady improvements in ICU,” he wrote. “He is still heavily sedated and on a respirator, but doctors are hopeful to be able to wake him up in the coming days.
“The injuries to Brett’s face are substantial and confronting, but the surgeons have done an amazing job.
“Bless them and all the medical staff for their ongoing efforts. Subsequent surgeries will be very likely and I shall keep this page updated in due course.
“Those of you who know/have known him would be aware of the kind and genuine person he is.”
More than $30,000 had been raised on the GoFundMe page by Friday midday.
He added: “To the wonderful community. My family is incredibly humbled and moved by the generosity and love shown by you all.
“In what is an incredibly difficult time, you have all jointly created a shining light, a much needed reminder that there are indeed beautiful people in the world. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.
“As difficult as this period is, given the abhorrent details of the attack, Brett’s family is doing their best to focus on the positive human spirit that has been witnessed so far through police, medical and community support.”
Ms Keecherer explained it was not the first time he has come close to death.
Around four years ago he was hit by a car in Melbourne leaving him with serious leg injuries and ongoing PTSD.
“His life was turned upside down and dreams put on hold,” she said.
“Since then it has been tough for Brett to get through each day but the one thing that kept him going was our daughter.”
Nine teens have been arrested in connection with the attack on the 36-year-old.
Eight of the nine – aged between 15 and 18 – face the serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
A court heard that following the alleged attack, a number of the boys gloated about the violence on social media and in text messages.
Court documents revealed one boy allegedly texted a friend saying: “I put the shattered bottle in his stomach and then (another boy) slit his face like 15 times and stabbed him in the eye.
“He stuck it in his eye. Put it in deeper. And swivelled the knife around. So funny.”
The wielder of the knife faces a maximum 25 years in jail if found guilty of a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.