Kristy Armstrong’s parents call for better DV support after her tragic death

When Donna and Peter Thornell found out their daughter’s alleged killer had killed himself in prison their first thought was one of relief — but anger quickly followed.

For the past year, Donna and Peter Thornell have been trapped in a nightmare from which there is no escape.

Their daughter Kristy Armstrong was a doting mum, a kind woman who even acted as a surrogate for her best friend’s baby.

But she was taken far too soon at the hands of her husband Troy on June 9 last year, after he crashed into her car in their home town of Molong.

Police had alleged Troy deliberately drove his ute at speeds of 140km/h towards Ms Armstrong’s sedan as she attempted to drive home.

Ms Thornell remembers the moments afterwards, screaming as she was told her daughter had died on the very street she lived on — and later hearing the words: “Troy did it” as she sat in the hospital.

Kristy Armstrong was tragically killed after her abusive husband crashed into her last year.

“I have visions of it every single day,” Mrs Thornell said. “It will never leave me … being just down the road we are faced with it constantly, which is really hard.”

But Troy was never jailed for his crime, he never even pleaded guilty to the charge of murder.

Donna and Peter Thornell, in front of a memorial for their daughter. Picture: Graham Schumaan

On June 4 — five days before the one-year anniversary of Kristy’s death — Mr and Mrs Thornell were told Troy killed himself while on remand in prison.

“The detectives came out to tell us and my first thought was one of relief,” Mrs Thornell told The Saturday Telegraph, “for the simple fact that the poor witnesses wouldn’t have to relive all these horrible things.

“My second thought was: ‘you selfish piece work’.

“To do it five days before Kristy’s anniversary, he took the easy way out, because there was so much evidence.

“We feel cheated.”

Kristy Armstrong and her estranged husband Troy Armstrong.

Kristy’s car after the horrific crash in which she died. Picture: 9 News

Mr and Mrs Thornell had been by their daughter’s side as she cried for years. Troy called her horrible names, screamed at her in front of their children, controlled their finances, smashed their wedding photos and a laptop, and even threatened her life.

They always thought he was selfish, but became increasingly concerned when his behaviour toward their daughter escalated after she acted as a surrogate for a close friend.

“We didn’t know how bad things were until she rang me in April 2021, she was crying, saying that Troy wanted her out of the house by the time he got home,” Mrs Thornell said.

“She said ‘how do I do that, it’s impossible’ and he said back to her ‘I don’t care if it’s in body bags’.”

Then there was the occasion Troy said he wanted help “running her down” after breaking into her home through a window.

After that incident, she took an AVO out against him. But it wasn’t enough to protect her.

“Why are we dishing out AVOs when they don’t work,” Mrs Thornell said.

“It’s not stopping these people. It certainly didn’t save Kristy. They mean nothing.”

Melissa Thornell, Kristy Armstrong, Donna Thornell, Peter Thornell, Jason Thornell and Bradley Thornell in 2022.

Mr and Mrs Thornell wonder what could have happened if there were more domestic violence services in their regional community — and whether June 9 could have just been an ordinary day if there had been.

“When Kristy finally reached out, there was no help,” Mrs Thornell said.

“Her words were ‘why bother, nothing is happening’.

“That really hurts, and I think we need more options for women regionally.”

With 26 women dying in gender-based violence in Australia this year, Mr and Mrs Thornell said a collective attitude adjustment was needed to call-out controlling and abusive behaviours toward women.

“If your son, uncle, nephew, workmate, whatever is doing this, tell them to pull their head in check on the woman,” Mrs Thornell.

“It’s a simple start.”

Kristy’s adoring kids are what has kept Mr and Mrs Thornell going, and they say their grandchildren’s resilience is what has encouraged them to get up every morning.

“If it wasn’t for them, I’d hate to think where we’d be now,” Mr Thornell said.

“They are amazing, there is so much of her in them, independent, resilient and kind.”

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